Alabama Constitution Section 182 Certain persons disqualified from registering and voting
Alabama Constitution – Section 182: Certain Persons Disqualified from Registering and Voting
Section 182 of the Alabama Constitution outlines specific categories of individuals who are disqualified from registering to vote or voting in the state. This section historically aimed to exclude individuals based on criminal convictions or actions deemed morally or legally unfit for civic participation.
As originally stated:
“No person convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude, or who is mentally incompetent, shall be qualified to register, vote, or participate in any election in the state of Alabama.”
Key Points:
Felony involving moral turpitude: Individuals convicted of such felonies are disqualified from voting unless their rights are restored.
Mentally incompetent: Those declared mentally incompetent by a court are also barred from voting.
This section has been the subject of legal and civil rights scrutiny, especially concerning the definition of “moral turpitude.”
Updates:
In recent years, the state has provided more specific guidance on what constitutes a "felony involving moral turpitude" and implemented pathways for restoration of voting rights after certain felony convictions.
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