Staff Report
MONTGOMERY – In an effort to ensure that eligible Alabama citizens are able to vote, Alabama’s Secretary of State John H. Merrill has asked the members of the Legislature to provide three separate and specific days of the week, times, and venues in their areas where the Secretary of State’s office may hold a drive for voter registration and photo I.D issuance.
The Alabama Secretary of State’s upcoming registration events will be held on September 1 in Calhoun County at 11:00 a.m. at Hobson City Hall and September 2 in Coffee County at 11:00 a.m. at Kinston Town Hall. On September 3 both Bibb and Tuscaloosa Counties’ registrations will be held at 10:00 a.m. at West Blockton City Hall.
Since June 3, 2014, to participate in an election, a citizen must be registered to vote and present a valid form of photo ID. Forms of photo ID accepted at the polls are any of the following valid documents: driver’s license; Alabama photo voter ID card; state issued ID (any state); federal issued ID; US passport; employee ID from Federal Government, State of Alabama, County, Municipality, Board, or other entity of this state; student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools); Military ID; or Tribal ID.
To receive a free Alabama photo voter ID card, a citizen must be a registered voter and must not have one of the valid forms of photo ID listed above.
When applying for the free Alabama photo voter ID, a voter must show: a photo ID document or a non-photo identity document that contains full legal name and date of birth; documentation showing the voter’s date of birth; documentation showing the person is a registered voter; and documentation showing the voter’s name and address as reflected in the voter registration record. A citizen’s name, address, and voter registration status can be verified by Secretary of State staff, using the statewide voter registration system.
Examples of non-photo ID documents that can be used in applying for a free Alabama photo voter ID card include a birth certificate, marriage record, Social Security Administration document, hospital or nursing home record, Medicare or Medicaid document, or an official school record or transcript.
To obtain additional information on free voter ID cards, voters can call 1-800-274-VOTE or visit www.alabamavoterid.com. The website also includes a listing of the mobile site schedule.
