Alabama’s Disenfranchisement Issue

Recent findings from a nonprofit organization, focused on restoring voting rights in Alabama after felony convictions, point to the state’s “moral violation” law as a significant factor in the disenfranchisement of Black citizens. The law appears to create barriers for individuals trying to regain their voting rights.

This analysis, spanning three years and involving around 25,000 voter records, is detailed in a report titled “Alabama’s moral tension law disproportionately strips black citizens of their right to vote.”

Richard Fording, co-director of the organization, commented on the issue, emphasizing that the disparity arises not merely from excessive scrutiny but from structural failures rooted in policy. He highlighted how Black Alabamians are more likely to lose their voting rights and face increased challenges in regaining them.

The researchers gained access to the data following a federal judge’s order that mandated the Secretary of State’s office to provide the requested information under the National Voter Registration Act. Previously, former Secretary of State John Merrill had refused to share the records.

The information covers individuals purged from the voter rolls between 2017 and 2021 as well as those who chose not to register. The report reveals the implications of the “Definition of Moral Tension Act” which outlines which felonies can lead to disenfranchisement.

Although Black citizens constitute about 26% of Alabama’s eligible voting population, they represent 52% of those purged from the rolls. Alarmingly, Black Alabamians were found to be 50% less likely to regain their voting rights compared to their white counterparts, a trend that was also seen between genders.

Dori Miles, another co-director of the organization, remarked that these outcomes are not incidental but rather the result of systemic bias within a system supposedly designed for fairness.

Despite acknowledging the over-representation of Black individuals in the criminal justice system, the report underscores that racial disparities still permeate disenfranchisement practices. The findings indicate that the laws not only reflect existing racial inequalities but also reinforce them.

Additionally, the study found discrepancies in how counties enforce the law, with some unfairly removing voters or denying registrations, even when local arrest rates were taken into account.

A recent piece of legislation, Alabama House Bill 100, passed in 2024, has extended the definition of felonies to include various attempts and conspiracies, and it applies retroactively. While this law came into effect after the 2024 presidential election and is not included in the current data set, researchers warn that it may further exacerbate the issue of voter disenfranchisement.

Maddie Minkoff, a research assistant, noted that while the full impact of HB100 remains to be seen, there are sufficient reasons for concern based on prior observations.

The report ultimately concludes that outdated attitudes, ambiguous legislation, and administrative discretion have converged to strip thousands of citizens, particularly marginalized Black men, of their most basic democratic rights.