HB 239

Under existing law, the boards of registrars periodically mail a notice to all registered voters seeking address confirmation. If a voter does not return the address confirmation card, the board of registrars places the voter on the inactive list of registered voters

This bill would revise the procedures for boards of registrars to periodically update the statewide voter registration database, and would authorize the Secretary of State to adopt rules to implement this section

Relating to voter registration; to amend Section 17-4-30, Code of Alabama 1975; to revise the procedures for boards of registrars to periodically update the statewide voter registration database; and to authorize the Secretary of State to adopt rules to implement this section

Section 1

Section 17-4-30, Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§17-4-30.

(a) Beginning in January 1997 February 2021, and in January February of every fourth year thereafter, the boards of registrars shall mail a nonforwardable notice to all registered voters in the county. The notice shall be designed and provided for the boards of registrars by the Secretary of State. The notice shall be sent on a postcard providing general information on elections. The notice shall be mailed to the last known address of the voter appearing on the voter registration list. If the notice is returned to the boards of registrars indicating that the voter may have relocated, the board shall send a forwardable notice to the registered voter on which the voter may confirm his or her current address. The forwardable notice shall be mailed no later than 90 days after receipt of the returned nonforwardable notice. Secretary of State shall use change-of-address information supplied by the United States Postal Service or other reliable sources as determined by the Secretary of State to identify registered voters whose addresses may have changed. Not more than 90 days after receiving the information from the Secretary of State a board of registrars shall proceed as follows:

(1) If it appears a registered voter has moved to a different residence address in the same board of registrars' jurisdiction in which the voter is currently registered, the board of registrars shall change the registration records to show the new address and the board of registrars or its agent shall send the voter a notice of the change by forwardable mail and a postage prepaid pre-addressed return form by which the registered voter may verify or correct the address information.

(2) If it appears a registered voter has moved to a different residence address not in the same board of registrars' jurisdiction, the board of registrars or its agent shall send the voter a notice by forwardable mail that includes a postage prepaid and pre-addressed return card on which the voter may verify or correct his or her current address. The notice shall state the following, depending on the circumstances:

a. If the registered voter did not change his or her residence, or changed residence but remained in the registrars' jurisdiction, the voter should return the card not later than the last day to register to vote before an election.

b. If the card is not returned, the voter shall be required to complete a voter registration update form before the voter is permitted to vote in an election during the period beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the day after the date of the second general election for federal office that occurs after the date of the notice.

c. If the voter does not update his or her voter registration record and does not vote in an election during the period beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the day after the date of the second general election for federal office that occurs after the date of the notice, the voter's name shall be removed from the list of eligible voters.

d. If the voter has changed residence to a place outside the board of registrars' jurisdiction in which the voter is registered, information concerning how the voter can continue to be eligible to vote.

(b) The boards of registrars A board of registrars or its agent shall record and maintain in the statewide voter registration database the dates on which the nonforwardable a notice provided for in subsection (a) was mailed to a registered voter and subsequently returned to the board and the date on which the forwardable notice was mailed to by the registered voter.

(b) (c) The boards of registrars shall update the voter list for the county statewide voter registration database using the information reported to the board by the registered voters on the address confirmation cards notices provided for in subsection (a).

(d) If the a registered voter does not respond to the forwardable notice on which the registered voter may confirm his or her address a notice provided for in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) within 90 days of the date on which the notice was mailed or if the forwardable notice is returned to the board of registrars as undeliverable, the boards of registrars board of registrars or its agent shall place the name of the registered voter on the inactive list of registered voters and in a suspense file in the office of the board. The suspense file shall contain all of the following information: change the voter's status to "confirm" and record in the statewide voter registration database in a manner prescribed, by rule, by the Secretary of State that the voter did not respond to the mailing or that the mailing was returned as undeliverable, and the date the information was recorded.

(1) The name of the registered voter.

(2) The last known address of the registered voter.

(3) At least the last four digits of the Social Security number or other personal identification number of the registered voter.

(4) The date on which the name of the registered voter was placed in the suspense file.

(c) The name of a registered voter who does not vote or appear to vote in one of the next two federal elections held after his or her name is placed in the suspense file shall be removed from the voter list.

(d) (e) If a voter who receives a notice provided for in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) votes in an election during the period beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the day after the date of the second general election for federal office that occurs after the date of the notice, or updates his or her voter registration record, the voter will be reinstated to a status of "active." If a voter who receives a notice provided for in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) does not update his or her voter registration record and does not vote in an election during the period beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the day after the date of the second general election for federal office that occurs after the date of the notice, the voter's name will be removed from the list of eligible voters. The names of persons to be removed from the list of registered voters pursuant to this section shall be published in accordance with Section 17-4-10.

(f) The Secretary of State may adopt rules to implement this section."

Section 2

This act shall become February 1, 2021, following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.