AL HB486

Automatic restoration of voting rights for individuals convicted of felonies upon completion of sentence, parole, or probation, with unpaid court costs/fines no longer disqualifying; excludes those convicted of treason, impeachment, murder, rape, sexual offenses, or child exploitation crimes

Eliminates qualification requirements for absentee voting, allowing any registered voter to vote absentee by mail, hand delivery, or commercial carrier; adds ballot curing process requiring election managers to notify voters of defects and allow corrections until the last business day before election

Establishes advance voting period beginning the fourth Monday before primary/general elections through the Friday before election day, with polling places open weekdays 9am-5pm and the second and third Saturdays preceding elections

Creates the Alabama Voting Rights Act Commission, a 5-member body selected by nonprofit nominating organizations, to review and preclear election-related changes in covered jurisdictions with history of voting rights violations or significant disparities in protected class voter participation

Requires Secretary of State to maintain a statewide election database with population demographics, election results, voter registration data, and polling place locations; creates Voter Education Fund for outreach to historically underrepresented communities