MONTGOMERY – On Friday, Secretary Merrill
released a statement concerning new registrants showing proof of citizenship.
“In December
2014 and again in February 2015, the Office of the Secretary of State requested
the United States Election Assistance Commission revise the state specific
instructions for Alabama on the National Voter Registration Application form.
On January 29, 2016, Brian Newby, United States Election Assistance Commission
Executive Director, granted our request, ensuring that every citizen that
registers to vote in the state of Alabama is a citizen of the United States, a
citizen of Alabama, and has no legal restriction to keep them from being
eligible.”
“The Office of
the Secretary of State will begin working towards implementation now that we
have received permission from the Election Assistance Commission, as well as
conducting outreach campaigns to let the public know when this will go into
effect. Our right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights we as Americans
are afforded, and as long as I am serving in this capacity, I will do
everything to ensure that the integrity standards we have set in place are
continued and strengthened.”
“We are very
excited and most enthusiastic that Mr. Newby has agreed with us that every
United States citizen that is a resident of Alabama and is eligible to vote
should be registered, and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that.”
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