SB294 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Convicted felons, automatic restoration of voting rights upon discharge from correctional institution, legislative oversight committee established, retroactive effect, Secs. 15-22-36, 17-3-31 am'd.; Sec. 15-22-36.1 repealed

Summary

SB294 would automatically restore voting rights to people convicted of felonies involving moral turpitude when they are discharged from incarceration, with retroactive effect, replacing the old certificate-based process.

What This Bill Does

The bill changes the restoration of voting rights from an application to the Board of Pardons and Paroles into an automatic process upon discharge from incarceration for felonies involving moral turpitude, for all elections in Alabama. It repeals the separate Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote and requires the Department of Corrections to notify the discharged individual, help with voter registration, and send registration forms to the Secretary of State, who updates the statewide voter list. Prosecutors and judges would inform defendants about loss and restoration of voting rights during plea and sentencing, and an education program would be created to explain the rules to staff and the public. The act is retroactive to those discharged before it became law, and it excludes treason and impeachment from automatic restoration.

Who It Affects

• Felons convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude: their voting rights would be automatically restored upon discharge from incarceration, and they would be added to the voter rolls without needing a separate restoration certificate.
• State and local government officials and agencies (prosecutors, judges, the Department of Corrections, the Secretary of State, and voter registration staff): they will implement the automatic restoration, notify defendants, process registration, maintain voter rolls, and educate officials and the public about the new process.

Key Provisions

• Automatic restoration of voting rights in federal, state, county, and municipal elections in Alabama for persons convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude when discharged from incarceration, with retroactive effect.
• Repeal of Section 15-22-36.1 (Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote) and amendments to Sections 15-22-36 and 17-3-31 to reflect automatic restoration.
• Prosecutors and judges must notify defendants during plea negotiations and sentencing that voting rights will be lost during incarceration and restored afterward.
• Department of Corrections must notify individuals at discharge, provide a voter registration form, assist with filling it out, and forward completed forms to the Secretary of State; monthly transmission of eligible voters to update the statewide list.
• Secretary of State must add eligible individuals to the statewide voter registration system and implement an education program for prosecutors, judges, election officials, corrections staff, and the public.
• The act has retroactive application to those discharged before the act’s effective date and preserves exceptions for treason and impeachment.
• Victim notification provisions apply to certain board actions for pardons/paroles related to specified offenses, giving victims advance notice and a right to present views.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections