Republican lawmakers are pushing a plan that would move up the voter registration deadline before each election.
Current law allows registration until 10 days before an election. A Republican bill would change the deadline to 17 days. The measure passed a Senate committee Wednesday on a party line vote. It now goes to the full Senate.
Republicans say local registrars need more time to prepare accurate voting lists for poll workers to use on election day. Democrats say the move will make it harder for people to vote.
The Senate panel unanimously approved several other election law changes. One would put Alabama with federal law intended to help active duty military personnel vote. Another would redact from publicly distributed voter lists the addresses of domestic violence victims.