Committee advances measure to notify people eligible to restore voting rights

The House Judiciary Committee on a hearing moved forward with a bill, presented by Senator Colvin Madison, that would require agencies involved in restoring voting rights after a criminal conviction to provide public notice and online instructions on how an eligible person may regain the right to register to vote.

Under the measure described in committee, the Board of Pardons and Paroles would be required to post an explanation on its website explaining, in an accessible format, how an individual who lost voting rights due to a conviction may seek restoration under Section 15-22-36.1 if the person meets that section's criteria. The bill also would require the board to make an electronic form and instructions available; the form would serve as an application for a certificate of eligibility to register to vote and be transmitted to the board and the appropriate local board of registrars.

Senator Madison said the requirement is intended to notify people who were told previously that they would never be eligible under older rules but who may now qualify under updated state law. Committee members discussed whether the measure shifts administrative burdens to the Secretary of State or local boards of registrars; sponsors and the bill's supporters said the intent is to provide notice and enable eligible individuals to submit applications, while registrars would re-add registrants who complete the required process.

A representative of the Secretary of State's office told the committee the office's official position was neutral at the time of the hearing; an office representative said the agency had not taken a position pending counsel review. Committee members asked whether the Secretary of State supports the bill and were told it was neutral. The committee adopted a friendly amendment offered by Representative England at the sponsor's request and voted to give the bill a favorable report as amended.