SB221 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Pardons and Paroles Board, restoration of voting rights, application for Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote, requirements to include payment of all fines, costs, fees, and victim restitution for any disenfranchising convictions, Sec. 15-22-36.1 am'd.

Summary

The bill narrows voting-rights restoration to focus only on fines, costs, and restitution tied to disenfranchising convictions and creates a defined process to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote.

What This Bill Does

It changes the eligibility rule so only fines, costs, fees, and victim restitution tied to disenfranchising convictions count toward restoring the right to vote. Applicants must have lost voting rights due to a disenfranchising conviction, have no pending felony charges, and have paid those related fines and restitution. A Board of Pardons and Paroles process will review applications and issue a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote, with hearings if a board member objects. Serious offenses listed would disqualify eligibility, but applicants can still seek a pardon with restoration, and the act becomes operative after federal preclearance and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Disenfranchised individuals: felons who lost voting rights due to a disenfranchising conviction; their eligibility depends only on fines/costs/restitution tied to that conviction.
• State agencies and staff involved in the process: Board of Pardons and Paroles, investigators, and related records offices, who will verify qualifications and issue Certificates of Eligibility to Register to Vote.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 15-22-36.1 to limit the payment requirement to fines, costs, fees, and victim restitution connected to disenfranchising convictions.
• Adds eligibility criteria: loss of voting rights due to a disenfranchising conviction; no pending felony charges; payment of related fines/costs/restitution for disenfranchising convictions.
• Requires completion of sentence, pardon, or probation/parole before eligibility is granted.
• Creates a formal investigation and reporting process by the Board's staff to verify eligibility and determine whether criteria are met.
• Sets the board review process with potential hearings and possible issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility within a structured timeline, with objections handled via hearings.
• Lists disqualifying offenses (e.g., murder, rape, incest, sexual offenses, treason) that would prevent COE eligibility.
• Preserves the option to apply for a pardon with restoration of voting rights under existing law.
• Operative after federal preclearance under the Voting Rights Act; effective immediately after governor's signature or law.

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

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses