HB257 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Prince ChestnutRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Voting, automatic voter registration, process established

Summary

HB257 would automatically register people to vote (or update their registration) when they get or renew a driver license or ID card, with privacy protections and rules to guide the process.

What This Bill Does

It requires license offices to collect specific information from applicants and offers an opt-out to register to vote. If the applicant does not opt out, the information is sent to the Secretary of State, who forwards it to the county boards of registrars to process automatic registration or updates. If the applicant opts out, only essential identifying information is transmitted and the registration is not changed. The process also ties address changes on licenses to voter registration updates and sets rules to protect privacy and confidentiality of the data.

Who It Affects

• Applicants and other individuals applying for, renewing, or updating driver licenses or nondriver identification cards in Alabama, who may be automatically registered to vote or have their registration updated unless they opt out.
• Secretary of State, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, and county boards of registrars (and license issuing officials), who collect, transmit, process, and safeguard voter registration information and implement the new rules.

Key Provisions

• Automatic voter registration or update occurs when obtaining, renewing, or updating a driver license or nondriver ID.
• Applicants may opt out of automatic registration; if opted out, the transmission of registration information is limited and registrars are notified of the opt-out.
• Information collected includes full name, date of birth, addresses, date and signature, phone number (if available), last four digits of SSN, license number (if available), citizenship attestation, and an opt-out notation, plus any other data the Secretary of State requires by rule.
• With consent (no opt-out), information is sent to the Secretary of State, who forwards it to county boards of registrars to process the registration or update; opt-out triggers continued processing only for essential data and a record of the opt-out.
• Address changes and updates on licenses serve as voter registration updates, and changes can cancel previous registrations in other counties or states as applicable.
• Completed, signed voter registration forms are transmitted to the Secretary of State within five days, who then forwards them to the appropriate county boards within five days; unsigned forms are handled per retention rules.
• Information collected is not a public record and is protected by confidentiality rules established by the Secretary of State and related agencies.
• The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and the Secretary of State may adopt rules to implement this section.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it becomes law.

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

Subjects

Voter Registration