Registering as a Write-In Candidate?

The Alabama House spent much time morning discussing House Bill 39 introduced by Representative Charles Newton of Greenville. This bill relates to write-in votes; it would require that a write-in candidate be registered with the Secretary of State or the judge of probate as an official candidate and comply with the provisions of the Fair Campaign Practices Act and the State Ethics Law in order for his or her vote to be counted. It was clear that there was some Republican opposition with Representatives J. Williams and P. Demarco both approaching the podium to seek for clarification. After spending nearly half an hour discussing the bill, House Bill 39 passed the full body with a vote of 91-3.