1 HB314
2 209347-4
3 By Representative Scott
4 RFD: Ways and Means General Fund
5 First Read: 03-FEB-21
Page 0
HB314
1
2 ENROLLED, An Act,
3 Relating to voter registration lists; to amend
4 Sections 17-4-30 and 17-4-31, Code of Alabama 1975; to revise
5 the process used by the Secretary of State and boards of
6 registrars to periodically update the statewide voter
7 registration database; to authorize the Secretary of State to
8 adopt rules; and to revise the publication reimbursement rate
9 to counties relating to revising the statewide voter
10 registration database.
11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
12 Section 1. Sections 17-4-30 and 17-4-31, Code of
13 Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
14 "17-4-30.
15 "(a) Beginning in January 1997 February 2025, and in
16 January February of every fourth year thereafter, the boards
17 of registrars shall mail a nonforwardable notice to all
18 registered voters in the county. The notice shall be designed
19 and provided for the boards of registrars by the Secretary of
20 State. The notice shall be sent on a postcard providing
21 general information on elections. The notice shall be mailed
22 to the last known address of the voter appearing on the voter
23 registration list. If the notice is returned to the boards of
24 registrars indicating that the voter may have relocated, the
25 board shall send a forwardable notice to the registered voter
Page 1
HB314
1 on which the voter may confirm his or her current address. The
2 forwardable notice shall be mailed no later than 90 days after
3 receipt of the returned nonforwardable notice. The boards
4 Secretary of State or board of registrars shall use board of
5 registrars, or the Secretary of State, if acting as the
6 board's agent pursuant to subsection (h), shall use
7 change-of-address information supplied by the United States
8 Postal Service through the National Change of Address database
9 and by at least one other voter registration database,
10 including, but not limited to, the Electronic Registration
11 Information Center or NVRA designated agency, to identify
12 registered voters whose addresses may have changed.
13 "(b)(1) If the Secretary of State or a board of
14 registrars determines from the information provided by the
15 United States Postal Service that a registered voter has moved
16 "(b)(1) If the board of registrars or Secretary of
17 State determines from the change-of-address information that a
18 registered voter has moved to a different residence address
19 that is under the jurisdiction of the same board of
20 registrars, the board of registrars shall change the
21 registration records of that voter to show the new address,
22 and the Secretary of State or board of registrars board of
23 registrars or Secretary of State , within 90 days after
24 identifying the potential change, shall send the voter a
25 notice of the change by forwardable mail along with a postage
Page 2
HB314
1 prepaid, pre-addressed return card on which the registered
2 voter may correct his or her current address information. The
3 notice shall inform the voter that if the voter did not change
4 his or her residence, he or she is required to return the
5 pre-addressed card no later than the last day to register to
6 vote before an election.
7 "(2) If the Secretary of State or board of
8 registrars determines from the information provided by the
9 United States Postal Service that a registered voter has moved
10 "(2) If the board of registrars or Secretary of
11 State determines from the change-of-address information that a
12 registered voter has moved to a different residence address
13 that is under the jurisdiction of a different board of
14 registrars or to a residence address outside of the state, the
15 Secretary of State or board of registrars board of registrars
16 or Secretary of State, within 90 days after identifying the
17 potential change, shall send the voter a notice of the change
18 by forwardable mail along with a postage prepaid,
19 pre-addressed return card on which the registered voter may
20 verify or correct his or her current address information. The
21 notice shall include both of the following:
22 "a. A statement informing the voter that if the
23 pre-addressed card is not returned within the time specified
24 in the notice, the voter will be permitted to vote in that
25 same jurisdiction during the period from the date the notice
Page 3
HB314
1 was mailed and ending on the day after the date of the second
2 general election for federal office, provided the voter
3 completes a voter registration update form. If the voter does
4 not update his or her voter registration record or vote during
5 the period ending on the day after the date of the second
6 general election for federal office, the voter's name shall be
7 removed from the list of eligible voters.
8 "b. Information concerning how the voter may
9 continue his or her eligibility to vote in another
10 jurisdiction if the voter has changed his or her residence to
11 an address outside of the jurisdiction of the board of
12 registrars under which he or she is then registered.
13 "(c) The Secretary of State or board of registrars
14 "(c) The board of registrars or Secretary of State
15 shall record and maintain in the statewide voter registration
16 database the dates on which the nonforwardable notice was is
17 mailed to a registered voter and the card is subsequently
18 returned to the board and the date on which the forwardable
19 notice was mailed to by the registered voter.
20 "(b)(d) The boards board of registrars shall update
21 the voter list for the county statewide voter registration
22 database using the information reported to the board by the
23 registered voters on the address confirmation prepaid,
24 pre-addressed return cards provided for in subsection (a) this
25 section.
Page 4
HB314
1 "(e) If the registered voter does not respond to the
2 forwardable notice on which the registered voter may confirm
3 his or her address provided in this section within 90 days of
4 the date on which the notice was mailed or if the forwardable
5 notice is returned to the board of registrars as
6 undeliverable, the boards board of registrars or its agent
7 shall place the name of the registered voter on the inactive
8 list of registered voters and in a suspense file in the office
9 of the board. The suspense file shall contain all of the
10 following information: change the status of the voter to
11 inactive and indicate in the statewide voter registration
12 database the date the change is recorded and that the voter
13 did not respond to the mailing or that the mailing was
14 returned as undeliverable, in a manner provided by rule by the
15 Secretary of State.
16 "(1) The name of the registered voter.
17 "(2) The last known address of the registered voter.
18 "(3) At least the last four digits of the Social
19 Security number or other personal identification number of the
20 registered voter.
21 "(4) The date on which the name of the registered
22 voter was placed in the suspense file.
23 "(c) The name of a registered voter who does not
24 vote or appear to vote in one of the next two federal
Page 5
HB314
1 elections held after his or her name is placed in the suspense
2 file shall be removed from the voter list.
3 "(d)(f) The names of persons to be removed from the
4 list of registered voters pursuant to this section shall be
5 published in accordance with Section 17-4-10.
6 "(g) The Secretary of State may adopt rules as
7 necessary to implement this section.
8 "(h) The Secretary of State may act as an agent for
9 the boards of registrars in implementing this section. a board
10 of registrars, only upon receiving the written consent of the
11 county commission, in implementing this section.
12 "17-4-31.
13 "The state shall reimburse each county commission
14 for all the postage costs associated with voter lists
15 maintenance activities provided for in Section 17-4-30 and
16 one-fourth one-half of the cost of the publication of the
17 names of persons individuals to be removed from the list of
18 registered voters as required in Section 17-4-10. The
19 reimbursement shall be made from the Election Expenses Account
20 in the State Treasury upon approval by the Secretary of State
21 on warrants drawn by the state Comptroller."
22 Section 2. This act shall become effective
23 immediately following its passage and approval by the
24 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
Page 6
HB314
1
2
3
4 Speaker of the House of Representatives
5
6 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
7 House of Representatives
8 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in
9 and was passed by the House 01-APR-21, as amended.
10
11 Jeff Woodard
12 Clerk
13
14
15
16 Senate 17-MAY-21 Passed
17
Page 7
Statutes affected: Introduced: 17-4-30, 17-4-31
Engrossed: 17-4-30, 17-4-31
Enrolled: 17-4-30, 17-4-31