Alabama: senator proposes easing the rules on restoration of ex-felons' voting rights
The Birmingham News reports: A state senator has proposed a bill that would automatically restore voting rights to felons who are eligible.
Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said his bill would end the need for felons to apply to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. Felons would be able to go the county registrars, he said.
Singleton said his bill would strengthen a 2003 law, which allows most Alabama felons to apply to the parole board for approval to vote. "When you look at the bill that has already passed, we've had a lot of problems with it."
He said the number of people who have applied for their voting rights to be returned has resulted in long delays for the board, keeping eligible offenders from voting for many months. -- Bill proposes automatically restoring voting rights