A logical question would be, "When is the voter registration deadline in Alabama?"
Well, there's more than one deadline, depending on how you want to register.
The deadlines for registering to vote in Alabama's March 5 primary are fast approaching.
Those not already registered and those who have moved to another voting place must register by one of the three deadlines. There are three options for registering, depending on how you want to do it.
Online registration. Deadline, Monday, February 19 at 11:59 p.m.
One option is electronic voter registration. It may be completed by visiting here.
County board of registrars. Deadline, February 16.
A second option is to go to your county board of registrars and complete a written voter registration form. The deadline is February 16. County offices close at different times. Check yours. Most county registrars' offices are in the county courthouse, but some have a different office location. Check yours.
Mailing a voter registration form and ID. Deadline, postmarked by February 17.
A third option is to mail a completed registration form with a copy of your photo ID. The deadline to postmark a voter registration form is February 17. Check the time your local post offices can process this.
Voter eligibility requirements in Alabama
To be eligible to vote in Alabama, you must be a citizen of the United States, reside in Alabama and be 18 years old on or before Election Day. You must not be barred from voting due to a disqualifying felony conviction or have been judged "mentally incompetent" by a court of law.
"The most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen." - Justice Louis Brandeis
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen stated, "I want to encourage all eligible Alabama citizens to register to vote and to exercise this constitutional right. Voter participation in safe, secure, and transparent elections is critical to the success of our state."
On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters are required to present a valid form of photo identification when voting at their polling place or by absentee ballot.
For questions about registering to vote in Alabama, you can call the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office at 334-242-7210 or your local county board of registrars.
If you are already registered to vote and have not moved into a different voting area, you are good to go and do not need to register again.
A useful and easy tool to check your voter registration is on the online site of the Alabama Secretary of State's office here.
The site will also show you what district you vote in for: U.S. Congress, State Senator (not up this election), State House of Representatives (not up this election), county commission, county board of education and municipal elections (not up this election).
There are two simultaneous primaries on March 5, a Republican primary and a Democratic primary. You cannot vote in both. When you enter your polling place, an election official will ask if you want a Democratic ballot or a Republican ballot. You will be given the ballot for the party of your choice. There is no split-ticket voting in the primary. Split ticket voting is allowed in the November 5 general election.
The March 5 primaries are to select the nominees of the two parties for each office up for election this cycle. Those nominees will then face off in the November 5 general election. Also, independent candidates and write-in votes can be selected on November 5. There may be a handful of third-party nominees on the general election ballot.
Primary runoffs April 16
For all candidates who fall below 50% plus one vote (a majority) in the March 5 primary, there will be a runoff on Tuesday, April 16. It will be between the top two voter-getters in each race who did not achieve a majority.
General election November 5
The "real' election is on November 5. It will feature the two major party candidates for President of the United States plus any third-party and independent presidential candidates who meet state laws for ballot access. It will also have all of those races that determined party nominees in the party primaries.
You are called on to vote at least twice for any office, once in the March 5 primary and again in the November 5 general election. In cases where the candidates did not achieve a majority of the votes March 5, you will have to vote three times in those races that required a runoff.
Do all these rules for voting seem complicated? A lot of work? Well, if you are already registered to vote, you can simply go to your normal polling place on March 5, April 16 and November 5. Vote. Looking at it this way, it does not seem so complicated. Plus, it's your duty. Your American duty. Your Alabama duty.
"Talk is cheap, voting is free; take it to the polls." - Nanette L. Avery
Jim Zeigler is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com
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