SB21 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to voting rights; to amend Sections 15-22-36.1, 17-3-31, and 17-4-3, Code of Alabama 1975; to eliminate the application requirement and the Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote; to require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to determine whether an individual may have his or her right to vote restored if the individual has lost his or her right to vote by reason of conviction in a state or federal court and has been pardoned or released from incarceration or period of probation or parole; to allow an indigent individual to have his or her right to vote restored if he or she has paid all fines and restitution and is in compliance with an approved payment plan for the payment of court costs and fees or an approved community service plan to offset the payment of court costs and fees; to remove impeachment from the list of offenses that prohibit an individual from having his or her right to vote restored to make consistent with existing law; and to add Section 17-3-31.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to require notification to the individual that his or her right to vote has been restored.

Summary

SB21 would change how voting rights are restored for people with past convictions by removing the Certificate of Eligibility and letting the Board of Pardons and Paroles decide restoration after pardon or release, with indigent individuals able to restore rights by paying fines or performing community service, and removing impeachment as a disqualifying offense while adding a restoration notification requirement.

What This Bill Does

It eliminates the application process and Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote, shifting restoration decisions to the Board of Pardons and Paroles after pardon or release. It allows indigent individuals to have voting rights restored if they have paid all fines and restitution and are in compliance with an approved payment plan or a community service plan to offset court costs. It removes impeachment from the offenses that prohibit restoration and adds a requirement that individuals be notified when their voting rights are restored.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who have lost their right to vote due to a criminal conviction; their restoration would be determined by the Board of Pardons and Paroles rather than through an eligibility certificate.
• Indigent individuals with outstanding fines or court costs; they could restore voting rights by paying costs or completing a court-related payment plan or community service plan to offset those costs.

Key Provisions

• Eliminates the Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote and the application process; restoration decisions are made by the Board of Pardons and Paroles for those pardoned or released.
• Allows indigent individuals to restore voting rights if they have paid all fines and restitution and are in compliance with an approved payment plan or an approved community service plan to offset court costs.
• Removes impeachment from the offenses listed as disqualifying for restoration to align with existing law.
• Adds Section 17-3-31.1 to require notification to the individual that their voting rights have been restored.
• Creates a community service program for indigent individuals to offset court costs, with guidelines, credits for hours worked, and reporting requirements.
• Sets a payment priority for restoring eligibility: first restitution, then fines, then other costs, and requires posting of forms and restoration notices by agencies; includes ongoing updates to election officials and reporting.

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