By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Tuesday, September 22, was National Voter Registration Day. The Secretaries of State around the country remind voters to register to vote if they are not already registered.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill (R) wrote in a statement, “The ability to cast one’s vote in an election is a sacred American right the founding fathers provided for us at the birth of our nation. For the last 239 years, America has served as the world’s beacon of democracy and countless people have gained the right to vote over the years.”
Secretary Merrill continued, “National Voter Registration Day is a day specifically set aside to raise awareness of the need to register to vote before a citizen can exercise their right to vote on Election Day. All across the country, thousands of people are holding voter registration drives to make as many eligible citizens as possible on the voter rolls, allowing them to cast their vote on Election Day.”
Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-Selma) wrote in a statement on Facebook, “As we celebrate National Voter Registration Day, we also honor the 153rd anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. On this day in 1862, Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation which set a date for the freedom of 3 million slaves. As we celebrate this historic moment in American history, let us never forget that there is still much to do in securing liberty and justice for all Americans.”
Remember that if you have moved you need to register where you currently live.
The Alabama Republican Party wrote, “It’s National Voter Registration Day! Get signed up today to make a positive impact on your community!”
To register to vote follow the link: http://alabamavotes.gov/GetRegForm.aspx?m=voters
Secretary Merrill said, “My staff and I continually work to ensure that every eligible Alabamian has the ability to cast their ballot on Election Day for the candidate of their choice. We regularly hold voter registration drives and voter ID drives at libraries, community centers, civic centers, schools, universities, church organizations, senior centers, festivals, fairs, housing authorities, and ballparks. We are visiting each of the 67 counties (some multiple times) in order to make the service as available as possible.”
Remember that Alabama is now a photo ID state. Even if you have voted for years, you have to bring a photo ID with you to the polls in order to vote. If you do not have a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license, the state will provide you with one.
To learn when and where Voter ID drives are being held follow the link: http://www.alabamavoterid.com/mobileLocations.aspx
