Know Your Rights! Voting in Alabama for People with Convictions

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Who can vote?

Under Alabama law, you have a right to vote if: You are a United States Citizen; you reside in Alabama; you are at least 18 years old; you have not been legally declared “mentally incompetent” by a court; you have not been convicted of a disqualifying felony listed at the bottom of this page.

What is a disqualifying felony?

As of August 2017, disqualifying felonies are only those listed at the bottom of this page. If you have not been convicted of one of the crimes listed at the bottom of this page, you do not have a disqualifying felony conviction and are eligible to vote.

What if I want to vote but my registration was rejected?

Before August 2017, the definition of disqualifying felonies was left up to individual registrars. This meant that some people were wrongly told they were ineligible to vote. If you have NOT been convicted of a disqualifying felony, you ARE able to register right now, even if you were incorrectly told that you were ineligible.

If I have a disqualifying conviction, can I get the right to vote back now that I am out of prison?

Maybe. A person with a disqualifying conviction can, sometimes, restore his or her right to vote by applying for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote (CERV).

You are eligible for a CERV if:

  • You have not been convicted of one of the following crimes: Impeachment, murder, rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, sexual crimes against children, or treason.

  • You do not have any felony charges currently pending.

  • You have paid all legal fines and fees, as well as any victim restitution, ordered by the court that sentenced you for your disqualifying conviction.

  • You completed your sentence, were pardoned, or completed probation or parole.

For more information about applying for a CERV, visit the Board of Pardons and Paroles website: http://www.pardons.state.al.us/Pardons.aspx.  If you are not eligible for a CERV, you can apply for a pardon to restore your voting rights. Whether you receive a pardon is up to the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

What if I have more questions?

If you have additional questions or want help registering to vote or applying for a CERV, call Danielle Lang or Blair Bowie at (202) 736-2200

Disqualifying Felonies in Alabama

If you have NOT been convicted of one of the following, then you NEVER lost your right to vote, and you ARE eligible to register now.

  • Aggravated child abuse

  • Assault (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Attempt to commit an explosives or destructive device or bacteriological or biological weapons crime

  • Bigamy

  • Burglary (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Conspiracy to commit an explosives or destructive device or bacteriological or biological weapons crime

  • Dissemination or public display of obscene matter containing visual depiction of persons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts

  • Distribution, possession with intent to distribute, production of, or offer or agreement to distribute or produce obscene material

  • Electronic solicitation of a child

  • Endangering the water supply

  • Enticing a child to enter a vehicle for immoral purposes

  • Facilitating solicitation of unlawful sexual conduct with a child

  • Facilitating the online solicitation of a child

  • Facilitating the travel of a child for an unlawful sex act

  • Forgery (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Hindrance or obstruction during detection, disarming, or destruction of a destructive device or weapon

  • Hindering prosecution of terrorism

  • Human trafficking (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Incest

  • Kidnapping (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Manslaughter

  • Murder (including non-Capital, reckless, and felony murder)

  • Parents or guardians permitting children to engage in production of obscene matter

  • Possession and possession with intent to disseminate of obscene matter containing visual depiction of persons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts

  • Possession, manufacture, transport, or distribution of a destructive device or bacteriological or biological weapon

  • Possession, manufacture, transport, or distribution of a detonator, explosive, poison, or hoax device

  • Possession or distribution of a hoax device represented as a destructive device or weapon

  • Production of obscene matter containing visual depiction of persons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts

  • Production or distribution of a destructive device or weapon intended to cause injury or destruction

  • Prohibited acts in the offer, sale, or purchase of securities

  • Rape (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Robbery (1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree)

  • Selling, furnishing, giving away, delivering, or distribution of a destructive device, a bacteriological weapon, or biological weapon to a person who is less than 21 years of age

  • Sexual abuse (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Sexual abuse of a child under 12 years old

  • Sexual torture

  • Sodomy (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Soliciting or providing support for an act of terrorism

  • Terrorism

  • Theft of lost property (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Theft of property (1st or 2nd degree)

  • Theft of trademarks or trade secrets

  • Torture or other willful maltreatment of a child under the age of 18

  • Trafficking in cannabis, cocaine, or other illegal drugs or trafficking in amphetamine or methamphetamine

  • Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act

  • Treason

 

A collaboration of CLC and The Ordinary People Society.

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