Alabama's voter id law gets its first test when primary voters go to the polls on June 3rd. Every voter will be required to present one form of state-mandated photo id, so make sure you have one ready. Also, talk with friends & neighbors - particularly if they're low income non-drivers or senior citizens who may have let their driver's licenses lapse.
According to the Secretary of State's office, valid forms of photo id include:
Valid Driver's License
Valid Non-driver ID
Valid State Issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
Valid Federal Issued ID
Valid US Passport
Valid Employee ID from Federal Government, State of Alabama, County Government, Municipality, Board, Authority, or other entity of this state
Valid student or employee ID from a college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
Valid Military ID
Valid Tribal ID
If you don't have any of the above, you're eligible to get a free non-driver's id from the Department of Public safety or a free photo voter id card from the state. County registrar offices are beginning to offer them this week. In Limestone County, for example:
Voters who don’t have a valid photo ID to use in Alabama's elections can get one free at the Limestone County board of registrars’ office. Alabama's chief election official, Secretary of State Jim Bennett, said registrars’ offices in every county will be offering the free IDs, starting this week.
The Limestone County office is on the second floor of the Clinton Street Courthouse Annex in Athens. Those without a proper ID can get one free by going to the registrars' office with documents showing their full legal name, date of birth and address.
Only those who are registered to vote in Alabama and do not already have a photo ID from any county, state or agency are eligible for the voter ID card.
The state has also promised to send mobile vans to each county to process voter IDs for those people who can't make it to their county registrar's office during business hours. We hope to see that schedule soon.
Read more about the requirements in the Alabama Photo Voter ID Guide from the SOS office (PDF) to make sure that you're ready and able to vote on June 3rd!