HB479 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bryan BrinyarkRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Voting, statewide voter registration database, identifying voter address changes, Electronic Registration Information Center removed as verification database

Summary

HB479 removes ERIC as a verification database for voter address changes and creates the Alabama Voter Integrity Database (AVID) to maintain the statewide voter list, verify addresses, and remove ineligible voters.

What This Bill Does

It requires using USPS NCAD plus at least one other voter database (instead of ERIC) to identify voters who may have moved. It establishes AVID to compare the statewide voter list with data from several sources (driver license/ID data, cross-state voter lists, NVRA data, USPS NCAD, SSA Death Index, DHS/USCIS) to detect moved voters, duplicates, deceased individuals, and noncitizens. It adds notice and update procedures for moves—within the same county, to another jurisdiction, or out of state—with potential removal from the eligible voter list if there is no timely response. It calls for ongoing list maintenance, data sharing under confidentiality rules, and funding from the voter registration fund, with an effective date of October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Voters who move within the same Alabama county: their registration address must be updated, and they will receive a notice with a card to confirm or correct their address.
• Voters who move to a different county or out of Alabama: they will receive notice asking them to verify or correct their current address and may need to update to remain eligible to vote.
• County boards of registrars and the Secretary of State: responsible for running AVID, sending notices, updating records, marking voters inactive, and potentially removing names from the voter list.
• Other data-providing entities (e.g., state agencies, DMV/ID data, other states): their data will be shared with the Secretary of State and AVID to help identify moved, duplicate, deceased, or ineligible voters, under confidentiality protections.

Key Provisions

• Amends 17-4-30 to remove the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) as an address-change verification database and requires USPS NCAD plus at least one other designated database to identify voters who may have moved.
• Creates and requires maintenance of the Alabama Voter Integrity Database (AVID) to compare the statewide voter list with multiple data sources (driver license/ID data, cross-state voter lists, NVRA data, USPS NCAD, SSA Death Index, DHS/USCIS data) to identify moved voters, duplicates, deceased individuals, and noncitizens.
• Outlines notice and update procedures: if a move stays within the same county, update records and mail a notice with a return card; if the move is to another jurisdiction or out of state, mail a notice with verification options; failure to respond or undeliverable mail can lead to the voter becoming inactive or being removed from the eligibility list.
• Requires timely updating and maintenance of the statewide voter list, publication of names to be removed, and gives the Secretary of State authority to adopt implementing rules.
• Allows data sharing with other states and outlines confidentiality protections; data may be used for legitimate governmental purposes related to maintaining the statewide voter list.
• Allocates funding for AVID operations and related notices from the voter registration fund.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

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

Subjects

Elections, Voting, & Campaigns