Voters Will Have To Show ID On Sept 9

Mobile Register ^ | 8-9-2003 | Rhoda A Pickett

[blam]

Voters will have to show ID on Sept. 9

Law was signed by Gov. Riley in June

08/09/03

By RHODA A. PICKETT
Mobile Register
Staff Reporter

The U.S. Justice Department has decided that Alabama's new voter ID law will be in effect when voters head to the polls Sept. 9 to cast ballots on a statewide tax referendum.

Officials with the Alabama attorney general's office spread the word to county election officials around the state Friday, letting them know that voters will have to show one of the forms of identification required by the law that Gov. Bob Riley signed in June.

Federal justice officials sent word to state officials late Thursday, according to Joy Patterson, a spokeswoman in the attorney general's office.

Because of the South's history of racial discrimination, when Alabama and other Southern states pass new laws and regulations that pertain to elections, they must pass muster with the Justice Department in a process called "pre-clearance."

In addition to voter ID, the Justice Department also pre-cleared a new law establishing statewide uniform polling hours in time for the Sept. 9 vote. Polls will be open across the state from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including those parts of the state in the Eastern time zone.

"The implementation of our new voter identification law is a tremendous victory for honest elections and the voters of Alabama," Attorney General Bill Pryor said in a statement.

"Voter ID is a basic and reasonable safeguard that will preserve the integrity of our elections and protect the fundamental rights of citizens to cast their votes," he said. "I am pleased also that the new statewide uniform voting hours should provide a more efficient and convenient voting process."

The voter ID law was a source of contention for many years. Republicans have said that it would help ensure against voter fraud. Many Democrats, though, have opposed it, saying that black voters, particularly those old enough to recall the pre-civil rights era of poll taxes and literacy tests, would be intimidated and discouraged from voting.

The law requires each voter to provide one acceptable form of identification to the appropriate election official prior to voting. Acceptable forms of identification include the following:

A current valid photo identification, which can include a government produced photo ID, such as a driver's license; an employee ID; college, university or technical school ID.

A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing the name and address of the voter.

The term other government document includes the following:

A valid identification card issued by a branch, department, agency or entity of the state of Alabama, any other state, or the United States authorized by law to issue personal identification.

A valid United States passport.

A valid Alabama hunting or fishing license.

A valid Alabama permit to carry a pistol or revolver.

A valid pilot's license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration or other authorized agency of the United States.

A valid United States military identification card.

A certified copy of the voter's birth certificate.

Certified naturalization documentation.

A certified copy of court records showing adoption or name change.

A valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card, also known as a "food stamp card."

Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis said that inspectors and chief clerks at the each of the county's voting precincts will receive additional information during one of two workshops planned prior to the referendum.

"I feel confident that voters will have one of these forms of identification to bring with them," Davis said. "It's going to slow things down a little bit, so voters should have it ready in their hands when they get to the table."

[PatrioticAmerican]

What, is Alabama racist and not like immivader Mexicans? I didn't see their ID on the list.