HB82 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Voting rights restoration, process of applying for Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote, eliminate requirement to pay fines and fees to regain right to vote, expand persons eligible for restoration of voting rights, Sec. 15-22-36.1, 17-3-31 am'd.

Summary

HB82 would broaden and simplify voting-rights restoration for people with past convictions by removing fines-payment requirements and extending eligibility to those released after five years, while speeding up the restoration process.

What This Bill Does

It removes the need to apply to the Board of Pardons and Paroles for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote as a path to restore rights. It eliminates the requirement to pay all fines, court costs, fees, and victim restitution before rights are restored. It expands eligibility so that individuals released from incarceration for five or more years can have their voting rights restored. It preserves pardons and certificate pathways to register to vote and introduces a faster processing timeline (up to 14 days) for eligibility determinations.

Who It Affects

• Individuals with past criminal convictions who want to regain the right to vote, as the financial payment barrier is removed and eligibility criteria are broadened.
• Individuals released from incarceration for five or more years, who would become eligible for voting rights restoration under the new rules.

Key Provisions

• Eliminate the requirement to apply to the Board of Pardons and Paroles for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote as a step to restore rights.
• Remove the obligation to pay all fines, court costs, fees, and victim restitution before voting rights are restored.
• Expand eligibility to include people released from incarceration for five or more years.
• Provide a streamlined process for eligibility determinations (up to 14 days) and allow registration upon presentation of the certificate or pardon.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Voters and Voting