Today, July 17, 2018, voters will return to the polls to make a final selection for the candidates they want to represent the Republican or Democratic party in the November General Election which will be held on November 6, 2018.
Secretary of State John Merrill (R) reminded voters that, as a result of legislation passed in the 2017 Session of the State Legislature sponsored by Senator Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) and Representative Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs), that they will only be able to cast a ballot for the party that they selected in the June 6th Primary.
Some candidates for both parties have already been selected, but voters are encouraged to return to the polls to make the final selections for their party representatives.
Voters will also be asked to show photo-ID.
Forms of photo ID accepted at the polls are any of the following 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.
Persons without a valid photo ID can get an Alabama photo voter ID card for free from their Board of Registrars.
To apply 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 the Secretary of State’s 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.
The State of Alabama does not have same day voter registration so if you are not already registered to vote, you likely will not be able to in today’s election. The deadline to get registered for this election has passed. If you are registered to vote, and moved but still live in the state of Alabama but did not update your registration; you will have to go back to where you were assigned to vote when you lived at your old address.
The Secretary of State’s website can provide any Alabama voter with their assigned polling location.
Alabama does not have any online voting and it is too late to apply for an absentee ballot so you will have to physically go to the polling place where you are assigned in order to participate in the election. If you already have an absentee ballot you need to go ahead and turn that in.
Alabama does not have party registration, so if you did not vote in June’s primary election June you can vote in either the Republican or Democratic runoff elections. If you did vote in the primary, you are limited to voting only in the same party that you voted for in June. No matter how you vote today you are free to vote for the candidates of your choice regardless of party in the general election on November 6.
There is no write-in candidates allowed in either party primary.
The polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.
Refer back to alreporter.com after the polls close for election results when they become available.
