The Alabama Secretary of State’s office will be in Tallapoosa County Thursday to make sure all residents have a photo ID that will be required to cast ballots in the June 3 Primary Election.
With the passage of House Bill 19 in 2011, the Alabama Legislature required photo identification to cast a ballot in the state beginning with this summer’s primary. But in response to concerns that some residents did not possess or could not afford photo ID, Secretary of State Jim Bennett’s office will dispatch photo voter ID mobile site visits, in which residents can get a photo ID suitable for voting at no cost.
“Voters can always get a free voter ID at their Board of Registrars office in their county or in the Secretary of State’s office,” Bennett said. “What we are trying to do with these mobile site visits is get to some of the more remote areas of the county to make this process convenient for all voters.”
Coosa County stops on the mobile site schedule are Wednesday, when secretary of state staff will be at the Goodwater Fire Department from 9 a.m. to noon and at the Rockford Public Library from 1-4 p.m.
Tallapoosa County stops on the mobile site schedule are Thursday. Secretary of State employees will be in New Site at the Town Hall Community Room (12791 Highway 22 East) from 9 a.m. to noon and at Jackson’s Gap Town Hall (1405 Main Street) from 1-3 p.m.
Some document proving the applicant’s identity will be required to get a photo voter ID. Non-photo identifying documents that can be used to obtain the free photo voter ID card include:
ν Birth certificate
ν Hospital or nursing home record
ν Marriage Record
ν State or Federal Census Record
ν Military Record
ν Medicare or Medicaid document
ν Social Security Administration Document
ν Certificate of Citizenship
ν Official school record or transcript
An agreement between the Secretary of State’s office and the Alabama Department of Public Health made it possible for a free birth or marriage certificate to be provided if the voter needs the documents to get their photo voter ID. The certificate will be provided electronically and is valid for voting purposes only.
“We hope that registered voters within the community will take part in these mobile visits,” said Bennett.
For more information on the process on how to receive a free voter ID, voters can call 1-800-274-VOTE or go to www.alabamavoterid.com. The mobile site schedule will also be posted there.