Bill > HB486

This bill revises Alabama's voting rights restoration process, establishes the Alabama Voting Rights Act Commission to combat voting discrimination, and requires the Secretary of State to create a database on election administration. Key provisions include automatically restoring voting rights for individuals convicted of felonies (except treason or impeachment) once they have completed their sentence, been pardoned, or successfully completed probation or parole, even if court costs or fees remain unpaid. It also expands absentee voting by allowing designees to return applications and ballots, introduces an advance voting period before elections, and creates the Alabama Voting Rights Act Commission, composed of five commissioners selected through a nominating committee of qualified organizations, to administer the new Alabama Voting Rights Act. This act prohibits local governments from implementing policies that result in disparities for protected classes in electoral participation and establishes a preclearance process for certain local government actions related to elections, requiring them to be reviewed by the Commission or a court before implementation. Finally, the bill mandates the creation of a statewide database by the Secretary of State to track election data and promote best practices, and establishes a Voter Education Fund to support voter outreach and education efforts.

Justice

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search