MONTGOMERY – On Monday, Secretary
of State John Merrill announced that the state of Alabama has launched efforts
to implement Electronic Voter Registration.
Alabama’s Electronic Voter Registration
aims to save taxpayer dollars, increase the accuracy of voter rolls and provide
a convenient yet secure option for Alabamians who wish to register or update
their information. Voters now have the ability to register via the Secretary of
State’s website (www.alabamavotes.gov). Once
their online registration has been completed, a paperless form is submitted
electronically to the Boards of Registrars in their home county.
“One of the most fundamental
rights we as Americans are afforded is our right to vote,” said Secretary
Merrill. “It is incumbent upon us as election officials to leverage technology
wherever we can to facilitate the voting process. We want every eligible
Alabamian to be afforded the right to vote, as well as participate in the
electoral process, and the new implementation of Electronic Voting Registration
will allow them to do so.”
“Upon entering office, I looked
for ways to make it easier for our citizens to register to vote. Based on that,
I instructed our Information Technology and Elections staff to provide
Alabamians an enhanced access to voter registration services at the least cost
to the state, while also ensuring that the integrity standards we have are
continued and strengthened.”
“This certainly is a historic
day in Alabama, and as long as I have the privilege to serve our citizens as
their Secretary of State, I will do everything within my power to ensure all
eligible Alabamians are able to exercise their right to vote.”
To submit an application to
register to vote, citizens must meet the following requirements: a citizen of
the United States, residency in the State of Alabama, at least 18 years of age
on or before election day, cannot be barred from voting by reason of a
disqualifying felony conviction, and cannot have been judged "mentally
incompetent" in a court of law. In addition to those requirements,
citizens must have a valid Alabama Driver’s License or valid Alabama
Non-Driver’s Identification card to submit an Electronic Voter Registration
Application.
For the March 1st
Primary Election, the last day to apply for voter registration through the
electronic application is February 15, 2016.
For more information, please contact the
Secretary of State’s Office at 334-242-7200 or visit our website at http://www.sos.alabama.gov/.
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