MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has commended the final passage of Senate Bill 142, legislation that formally establishes the Alabama Voter Integrity Database (AVID) as the state’s official voter file maintenance system. The bill, sponsored by Senator Wes Kitchens (R-Arab) and Representative Bryan Brinyark (R-Tuscaloosa), received bipartisan support in the state legislature.
With the enactment of SB142, AVID, a program created and implemented under Allen’s leadership, replaces the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) as the approved voter registration database under Alabama law. The legislation marks a significant shift in how the state maintains its voter rolls.
“Voter file maintenance is the foundation of election integrity. Because of this important legislation, we can now be assured that Alabama’s voter file maintenance efforts will remain robust in the future,” Allen said. “The passage of SB142 is a victory for each and every Alabamian as they head to the ballot box.”
The bill outlines five key components aimed at enhancing the accuracy of Alabama’s voter rolls. Among its provisions, the legislation authorizes the Secretary of State’s Office to access data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services. This data will be used to identify noncitizens who may be improperly registered to vote in the state.
“Only U.S. citizens should be voting in our elections. This is common-sense legislation, and I want to thank Senator Kitchens and Representative Brinyark for their hard work in passing this bill,” Allen added.
Supporters of the legislation have characterized the move as a proactive measure to bolster public confidence in Alabama’s election system, while critics of similar efforts in other states have raised concerns about access and voter disenfranchisement. No formal opposition was noted during the final legislative proceedings on SB142.
The law’s implementation will begin immediately, with the Secretary of State’s Office overseeing the transition from ERIC to the fully codified AVID system.
