Voting Rights
Voting is the most fundamental way for people to make their voices heard in the democratic process. But state policy decisions have created or preserved hurdles that make it difficult or impossible for many Alabamians to participate in that process. Arise analyzes these barriers to the ballot box and considers policy solutions to strengthen voting rights and expand civic engagement in Alabama.
Featured Resources
Letters & Testimony
Alabama Arise testimony in opposition to ending Public Service Commission elections
Alabama Arise’s Robyn Hyden testified Tuesday before the House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee in opposition to HB 392 by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollinger’s Island, which would change the Public Service Commission from an elected board to an appointed one. Here is the full text of Hyden’s prepared remarks: Good morning. I am Robyn Hyden, [...]
Fact Sheet
An inclusive democracy is vital to building a better Alabama for all
Alabama was central to the struggle for democracy and voting rights in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. And the need for our state to do more to build a more inclusive democracy continues today. That is especially true after recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions affecting the rights [...]
Resources
Building on our momentum for the new year
As we close out 2025, Arise members and member organizations can reflect on a very successful year. Reducing the state sales tax on groceries from 3% to 2% and guaranteeing more students in public schools get a free breakfast with a $7.3 million budget appropriation were two of the biggest highlights worth celebrating. Improvements were [...]
Resources
Las prioridades legislativas de Alabama Arise para 2026
Más de 150 grupos miembros de Alabama Arise y más de 1,500 miembros individuales eligen todos los años nuestras prioridades legislativas. Este proceso garantiza que los habitantes de Alabama más afectados por la pobreza participen de las decisiones. A continuación se enumeran las prioridades que nuestros miembros eligieron para 2025. Para obtener una versión de este [...]
Member Resources
Alabama Arise 2026 legislative priorities
More than 150 Alabama Arise member groups and nearly 2,000 individual members choose our legislative priorities each year. This process ensures that Alabamians most impacted by poverty have a seat at the table. Below are the priorities that our members selected for 2026. For a PDF version of this document, click here or click the [...]
Fact Sheet
Expand voting rights to right past wrongs and safeguard democracy in Alabama
Overview Alabamians who want to exercise their fundamental right to vote often face numerous hurdles to exercising that right. These barriers – both physical and procedural – reduce civic engagement and election turnout. Alabama does not allow early voting and has a complicated process for people who seek to vote an absentee ballot. And recent [...]
Resources
Las prioridades legislativas de Alabama Arise para 2025
Más de 150 grupos miembros de Alabama Arise y más de 1,500 miembros individuales eligen todos los años nuestras prioridades legislativas. Este proceso garantiza que los habitantes de Alabama más afectados por la pobreza participen de las decisiones. A continuación se enumeran las prioridades que nuestros miembros eligieron para 2025. Para obtener una versión de este [...]
Member Resources
Alabama Arise 2025 legislative priorities
More than 150 Alabama Arise member groups and more than 1,500 individual members choose our legislative priorities each year. This process ensures that Alabamians most impacted by poverty have a seat at the table. Below are the priorities that our members selected for 2025. For a PDF version of this document, click here or click [...]
Fact Sheet
Vote ‘No’ on SB 1 – narrowing voting rights in Alabama
Alabama’s absentee voting application process is already safe and secure. We don’t need to add confusing and frightening requirements to an already secure process. This bill would make it a crime for any person knowingly to provide or receive funding or a gift for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, prefilling, completing, obtaining or delivering another person’s [...]
Fact Sheet
Vote ‘No’ on HB 209 – Rep. Kiel’s bill that would narrow voting rights in Alabama
Voting rights are an essential part of the democratic process, and we should be wary of any legislation that unnecessarily prevents people from voting. But HB 209, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, would do just that. This bill would make it a felony to assist others in the absentee ballot application and submission process, [...]
