SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL:

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, as well as all Probate Judges 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 next registration events will be held in:

*July 5, 2016 – DEKALB COUNTY at 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Fort Payne City Auditorium, 100 Alabama Avenue, Fort Payne, AL 35967

*July 6, 2016 – MARION COUNTY at 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Hamilton City Hall, 422 2nd Street SW, Hamilton, AL 35570

* July 7, 2016 – CHOCTAW COUNTY at 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Butler Civic Center, 114 North Academy; Butler, AL 36904

*July 9, 2016 – RUSSELL COUNTY at 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Ladonia Voter ID Drive, Ladonia Walmart Neighborhood Market, 3864 Highway 80, Phenix, City, AL 36870

*July 11, 2016 – SHELBY COUNTY at 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Chelsea City Hall, 11611 Chelsea Road, Chelsea, AL 35043

*July 12, 2016 – CHEROKEE COUNTY at 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Center City Hall, 401 E Main Street; Centre, AL 35960

*July 13, 2016 – BULLOCK COUNTY at 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Richard B. Stone Complex, 21578 Hwy. 82 East, Union Springs, AL 36089

* July 14, 2016- CHAMBERS COUNTY at 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Sportsplex Recreation Center, 130 Sportsplex Drive, Valley, AL 36854

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 include valid: 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.

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 is also posted there.