SB24 – Modernizing Voting Rights Restoration

Background:  SB24 creates a clearer, more standardized pathway for restoring voting rights for people who lost them due to a conviction. It requires the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Secretary of State to jointly develop and publish plain-language instructions and an electronic application for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote. It also requires the Board to publish the names of individuals whose voting rights have been restored and to provide information to the Secretary of State, who then notifies the individual and the local board of registrars so the person can be added back to the poll list. The act is set to take effect October 1, 2026.

Our Position:   We support SB24. Restoring voting rights is a critical step toward successful reentry and a more inclusive democracy. Alabama should not maintain a confusing, inconsistent process that leaves eligible citizens unsure of how to regain their right to vote. SB24 improves clarity, planning, and access. This bill will ensure that eligible Alabamians can rejoin civic life and participate fully in their communities.