Election Day in Alabama: What voters need to know

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Election Day is days away in Alabama. Voters will pick a new governor and decide several other races Tuesday. Jefferson County Board of Registrars Chair Barry Stephenson says voters can find everything online, from polling places to sample ballots. He says the clock is ticking on absentee ballots.

“As far as absentee voting is concerned, if you want to vote in person at your respective county courthouse, you have until 5 p.m. Thursday, this Thursday, to vote in person,” Stephenson said.

Voters returning an absentee ballot by mail have until next week.

“If you’re doing it by mail, it has to be postmarked by Monday and it has to be delivered to us by Tuesday. So if we receive it after Tuesday, it’s not going to count. So if you have it and you’re going to do it by mail, you need to get busy and get it returned,” Stephenson said.

Those who plan to vote in person on Election Day need a valid photo ID.

“The address that we have in the voter registration system does not have to match the address on your driver’s license because you only, you have to get a driver’s license every four years, but you’re allowed to move whenever you want. But the picture has to be you. So again, most people use a driver’s license. You can also use passport, a college issued student ID, military ID, tribal ID,” Stephenson explains.

He encourages voters to check their voter status online ahead of time. He says an inactive status will not keep you from voting.

“If you find yourself in an inactive status, it’s okay. Your name’s still going to be on the e-poll book. All you have to do is fill out a voter update form. So once the person checking you in gets the voter update form, they give you a regular ballot. It goes in the same tabulation machine everyone else does,” Stephenson said.

The Board of Registrars asks voters to report any issues at their polling place. To learn more, click here.

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