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Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama SB 290 Overhauls Voting Rights Restoration, Eliminates Absentee Ballots Qualifications, and Establishes Advance Voting
Last action · February 10, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of OriginSponsor: Rob Stewart
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What This Bill Would Do
Alabama SB 290 automatically restores voting rights for individuals with past felony convictions upon sentence completion and fine payment, eliminates the qualification requirements for absentee voting to allow any elector to vote absentee, and establishes a mandatory prior to elections starting October 1, 2026.
The measure restructures state election administration by creating the Alabama Voting Rights Act Commission, requiring the Secretary of State to maintain a comprehensive statewide database on election data, and setting up strict requirements for local government election policies.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Individuals with past felony convictions
Individuals with past felony convictions are directly affected because their voting rights are automatically restored upon completion of their sentence, probation, or parole and payment of fines and restitution, subject to exclusions for specific violent and sexual offenses.
Registered electors
Registered electors are directly affected by the elimination of absentee voting qualifications, the introduction of standardized advance voting periods across counties, and new rules regarding mail-in ballot cure processes.
Local governments
Local governments are directly affected by new preclearance requirements for covered policies, obligations to transmit election data to the statewide database, and mandates to open and publicize advance voting polling places.
Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is directly affected by new duties requiring the establishment and maintenance of a statewide election database, preparation of incarcerated individual notification materials, and oversight of advance voting reporting.
Board of Pardons and Paroles
The Board of Pardons and Paroles is directly affected by new statutory timelines and investigation procedures required to verify eligibility and issue Certificates of Eligibility to Register to Vote.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for automatic restoration of voting rights under SB 290?
Do I need a specific excuse like illness or travel to vote by absentee ballot?
When can voters participate in advance voting before an election?
What is the purpose of the statewide database required by the bill?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 10, 2026SenateCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Feb 10, 2026SenateIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift from Discretionary to Automatic Rights Restoration
The bill moves voting rights restoration for eligible individuals away from discretionary parole board applications toward an administrative verification process upon sentence completion.
Establishment of the Voter Education Fund
A dedicated fund is created within the State Treasury to finance voter outreach, public education, poll worker training, and grants to community organizations.
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance90How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz75Current news / social attention level
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