Senate Bill 290 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Robert L. StewartSenator

Democrat

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Elections; voting rights restoration process revised; Alabama Voting Rights Act Commission established to prevent discrimination in voting; duties and membership provided; Secretary of State required to establish database on election administration

Summary

SB290 would overhaul Alabama's voting rules by automatically restoring voting rights for many felons, expanding absentee and advance voting, creating the Alabama Voting Rights Act and Commission to monitor discrimination, and establishing a statewide election database to run elections more openly.

What This Bill Does

It would automatically restore voting rights for many felons who meet set conditions after finishing their sentence, with certain crimes permanently disqualifying those restoration. It would remove existing absentee voting qualifications and authorize voting absentee for all registered voters, while outlining the application, return, and cure processes and provisions for emergencies. It would authorize an advance voting period before Election Day with designated hours and locations. It would establish the Alabama Voting Rights Act and Commission to oversee voting rights, plus a statewide election database and a Voter Education Fund to support education, outreach, and enforcement. It would take effect on October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Voters in Alabama, particularly those with felony convictions or voting rights restrictions, who may gain automatic restoration and broader absentee/advance voting options.
• Election officials, state and local government agencies, and election administrators who must implement automatic restoration, manage absentee and advance voting, operate the new commission and database, and publicize voting information.

Key Provisions

• Automatic restoration of voting rights for felons meeting criteria set in Section 15-22-36.1, with automatic restoration not available for specified crimes (e.g., murder, rape, treason, impeachment).
• Absentee voting reforms: any registered elector may vote absentee; defined process for applying, returning, and curing absentee ballots, including emergency absentee provisions and witnessed/notarized affidavits.
• Advance voting: creation of an advance voting period starting the fourth Monday before the election, with designated open locations and hours on multiple days, including weekends as allowed.
• Alabama Voting Rights Act and Commission: creation of the act and a five-member commission to administer it, with nomination from organizations and power to enforce, preclearance rules, subpoenas, and staff.
• statewide election database: Secretary of State to maintain a public, electronic database with demographic, registration, polling-place, and results data (excluding personal identifiers), plus data sharing and annual updates.
• Voter Education Fund: a new fund to support voter education, outreach, training, hotlines, and grants to organizations promoting nonpartisan voting information.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections, Voting, & Campaigns