HB443 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thad McClammy

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Elections, allowing persons convicted of certain felonies to vote, Sec. 15-22-36.1 am'd.

Summary

This bill would allow some people who lost the right to vote due to certain moral turpitude felonies to potentially regain voting eligibility if they cannot pay full court-ordered fines, by getting modified payment terms and a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote, with rules to revoke eligibility if payments are not made.

What This Bill Does

It creates a pathway for certain moral turpitude felons who cannot pay all fines, costs, fees, and restitution to petition the sentencing court to modify those payments. If the court reduces the payments and the person meets other requirements, the Board of Pardons and Paroles can issue a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote. The certificate can be revoked if the person fails to make the reduced payments, and ongoing checks and administrative steps are added to enforce eligibility. The bill also sets up procedures for how these modifications and certifications would be administered and monitored.

Who It Affects

• Individuals convicted of certain crimes of moral turpitude who have lost the right to vote and cannot pay the full fines, costs, fees, and restitution as originally ordered (they may petition for modified payments).
• State and local government agencies and officials (Board of Pardons and Paroles, sentencing courts, Executive Director of the BP&P, circuit clerks, prosecutors, and the Secretary of State) who would administer the petition, modify payments, issue or revoke Certificates of Eligibility to Register to Vote, maintain records, and perform ongoing eligibility checks.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 15-22-36.1 to allow a person convicted of certain moral turpitude crimes to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote if their payments are modified by the sentencing court.
• Creates a process for modifying payment of fines, court costs, fees, and restitution: applicants must list monthly expenses and income, and the court may set a partial payment amount based on financial ability.
• A Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote may be issued after the modified payment order is entered and the applicant meets all eligibility criteria; issuance occurs within 14 days after the report confirming eligibility.
• The certificate can be revoked if the applicant fails to make the reduced payments, and the applicant may petition again after meeting eligibility requirements for restoration.
• Excludes certain serious crimes (e.g., murder, rape, treason, certain child-related offenses) from eligibility for the certificate.
• Requires correctional facilities to post information about restoration requirements for voting rights.
• Requires circuit clerks to enter revocations into a state database and updates for restored voting rights; requires periodic checks by the Secretary of State to suspend ineligible voters from the voter rolls, with notice sent to the last known address.
• Allows the certificate process and voting-rights restoration to operate without affecting other restoration options (e.g., pardons).
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

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