SB214 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Moral turpitude defined, convicted felons involving moral turpitude, automatic restoration of voting rights upon discharge from correctional institution, legislative oversight committee established, duties to Secretary of State, retroactive effect, Restoration of Voting Rights Act, Sec. 17-3-30.1 added; Secs. 17-3-31, 17-4-6, 17-4-60, 17-11-3, 17-11-7 am'd.; Sec. 15-22-36.1 repealed

Summary

SB214 creates the Alabama Restoration of Voting Rights Act, defines moral turpitude, and automatically restores voting rights to felons upon discharge from incarceration, with added agency duties, oversight, and retroactive application.

What This Bill Does

Defines which offenses constitute moral turpitude and lists them in §17-3-30.1. Automatically restores the voting rights of a person convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude when they are discharged from incarceration (except in cases of treason or impeachment). Reforms how corrections and election officials handle voter registration by requiring notification, registration assistance, and updating voter rolls, including for incarcerated individuals. Establishes a temporary legislative oversight committee and a task force to monitor implementation for three years and requires reporting; the act has retroactive effect to cover all eligible voters.

Who It Affects

• Voters who have been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude will automatically regain the right to vote when they are discharged from incarceration (treason or impeachment are exceptions).
• Election administration and corrections agencies (Secretary of State, Department of Corrections, county boards of registrars, and federal correctional institutions) will implement and manage the restoration process, including notifying individuals, providing registration materials, transmitting registrations, and maintaining accurate voter rolls.

Key Provisions

• Adds a new Alabama Restoration of Voting Rights Act and defines a list of offenses that constitute a felony involving moral turpitude, including offenses such as murder, rape, incest, sexual offenses, treason, and related crimes (as specified in §17-3-30.1).
• Automatic restoration of voting rights upon discharge from incarceration for felonies involving moral turpitude, with exceptions for treason or impeachment; restoration applies to all elections.
• Amends various code sections (e.g., §§ 17-3-31, 17-4-6, 17-4-60, 17-11-3, 17-11-7) to conform to the restoration process and to extend certain absentee voting provisions to those who are eligible to vote and are incarcerated; requires notification and registration support from correctional facilities.
• Requires the Department of Corrections and federal correctional institutions to act as voter registration agencies, notify individuals about restored rights, provide voter registration forms, and transmit completed forms to county boards; mandates monthly transmission of lists of ineligible and eligible voters due to incarceration or discharge.
• Establishes a temporary joint legislative oversight committee (three years) and a task force of community leaders to monitor restoration of voting rights, with reporting due by the seventh legislative day of each regular session.
• Repeals Section 15-22-36.1 and provides retroactive effect, making the provisions apply to all eligible voters regardless of whether they were convicted or discharged before the act’s effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections