HB189 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Beckman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Voter Registration lists, process to update current address information revised based on information supplied by United States Postal Service, Sec. 17-4-30 am'd.

Summary

HB189 would use USPS change-of-address data to update Alabama voter addresses and remove voters who don’t respond or vote.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires the Secretary of State and local boards of registrars to update voter addresses using USPS information. They must mail notices to voters (nonforwardable first, then forwardable) and update records within 90 days of identifying a change. If a move stays within the same board, or moves to a different board, they update the address and inform the voter; if the move is outside Alabama, they still notify. If voters don’t respond or don’t vote during the specified period, their names can be removed from the active voter list and placed in an inactive/suspense file with published removals.

Who It Affects

• Registered voters in Alabama: their registration address may be updated; if they don’t respond or vote, they may become inactive or be removed from the list.
• Election officials (Secretary of State and county boards of registrars): responsible for updating records, sending notices, maintaining suspense/inactive lists, and publishing removals.

Key Provisions

• Use USPS change-of-address information to identify and update voter addresses, including moves within the same board, moves to a different board, and moves outside Alabama.
• Send notices to voters: a nonforwardable notice, then a forwardable notice within 90 days if the address appears to be changing; provide a return card for verification or correction.
• Notify voters of required actions and deadlines, including when to update or confirm address information and the consequence of not responding or not voting in the period specified (possible removal).
• Maintain records in the statewide voter registration database, create an inactive/suspense file for nonresponse, publish removals as required, and have the Secretary of State promulgate implementing rules.

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