HB473 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Voting rights restoration, application requirement eliminated, Board of Pardons and Paroles to determine eligibility to receive Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote, indigent individual's voting rights to be restored if individual is in compliance with approved payment plan for payment of fines, court costs and fees, Secs. 15-22-36.1, 17-3-31, 17-4-3 am'd.

Summary

HB473 would streamline voting rights restoration by removing the application process, giving the Board of Pardons and Paroles the power to determine eligibility after pardon or release, and allowing indigent individuals to regain voting rights by paying fines or performing community service.

What This Bill Does

It eliminates the Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote and the application requirement. The Board of Pardons and Paroles will determine whether a person who lost voting rights due to a conviction may have those rights restored after they are pardoned or released. Indigent individuals can have their rights restored if they have paid all fines and restitution and are in compliance with an approved payment plan or a approved community service plan to offset court costs and fees. The bill also removes impeachment from the list of offenses that disqualify restoration and adds a notification requirement when rights are restored.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who lost their voting rights due to a conviction and have been pardoned or released from incarceration or probation/parole, whose eligibility to vote would be determined by the Board of Pardons and Paroles instead of an application procedure.
• Indigent individuals who owe fines and court costs but are in compliance with an approved payment plan or who participate in an approved community service program to offset those costs, whose voting rights may be restored.

Key Provisions

• Eliminates the application for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote and replaces it with a Board-based determination of eligibility after pardon or release.
• Indigent restoration requires either paying all fines/restitution and complying with a payment plan for court costs/fees or completing a community service plan for at least one year.
• Impeachment is removed from the list of disqualifying offenses that would bar restoration of voting rights; other disqualifying offenses remain governed by existing law.
• Adds Section 17-3-31.1 requiring notification to the individual and county registrar when rights are restored; the Secretary of State is notified and the individual is added to the poll list.
• Creates and governs a Community Service Program to offset court costs/fees, with an hourly credit rate equal to the federal minimum wage, and requires informed consent for participation; credits are applied in priority to outstanding obligations.
• Board of Pardons and Paroles must provide restoration notices and addresses to the Secretary of State and maintain reporting and posting of restoration data.
• Effective immediately upon the Governor's approval.

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