Maddie Minkoff | RMV Intern
Even if you have lost your right to vote in Alabama, there is a path to voting rights restoration in most cases. If you have been convicted of a crime on this list that is written in black above the red box, you may be eligible to receive a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote (or a CERV). If you have questions about the CERV process, are unsure if you are eligible, or need any other help, please request a consultation with a Return My Vote consultant today!
There are three conditions one must meet before they are eligible for a CERV:
- You must have completed your sentence for the disqualifying conviction including community supervision (probation or parole).
- You must have paid off all of the fees, fines, and restitution charges associated with your disqualifying conviction.
- You must not have any felony convictions currently pending.
If you meet all three of these conditions, then the state must reinstate your voting rights once you submit a CERV application. You can use this link to fill out a CERV application on your computer or print out a physical copy of the application. When filling out this application, you will need to provide personal identifying information as well as information about the conviction(s) that took away your voting rights. You will need to know what you were convicted of, what county the conviction was in, and the year of the conviction. Case numbers are helpful, too, if you have them.
If you are having difficulty finding any of this information or filling out the CERV application, you can request a consultation with a Return My Vote consultant and we will help you out! Return My vote uses Alacourt, a conviction database for the state of Alabama to provide you with information about your case(s) as well as any information about outstanding financial obligations.
Once you have filled out the CERV application, you need to turn it in to the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (the ABPP). You can do this by emailing a digital copy of the application to the ABPP using this email address: pardons@paroles.alabama.gov. Alternatively, you can mail a physical copy to the ABPP at this address:
301 S. Ripley Street,
Montgomery, AL 36104.
Please note that this is a new address for the ABPP as of February 2024.
Once the ABPP receives your CERV application, they have 44 days to issue you a CERV. The CERV is a piece of paper that you will receive in the mail that certifies your right to vote.
Once you receive your CERV, you will need to physically bring the CERV with you, to your local registrar’s office in order to register to vote. Here’s a list of local registrars with addresses and contact information.
If you run into any obstacles at any point in the CERV application process or if you have questions, please reach out to us at Return My Vote for help!
Happy voting!
