Joe Turnham (D)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline)- The Alabama Democratic Party says it will sue Secretary of State Beth Chapman over her refusal to give the party updated statewide voter lists.
Party Chairman Joe Turnham said the party last received a voter list in early April, and when he asked for an updated list, he said he was told additional lists would cost $28,170 each.
"For us to be able to do voter contact and to mail voters, and call voters and knock on their door, we (must) have the most up-to-date voter file available," Turnham said at a news conference.
While Chapman, a Republican, says political parties are only entitled to one free list per year, Turnham says they should be provided one after each statewide election.
The parties got a free voter registration list in the spring, but since then thousands of Alabamans have registered to vote, Turnham said.
"We are now 40 days out from an election with voter file data that is now 6 months old and will be 7 to 8 months old when we get into the final stretch," he said.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.