May 19th Primaries, Part 8: What To Know When Voting

May 19th Primaries, Part 8: What To Know When Voting

Polls are open until 7:00 tonight and election officials are expecting another low voter turnout statewide. Mid-term elections historically produce low voter participation, partly because the individual parties are electing their nominees and partly because of voter apathy. Add to that this year confusion and anger over redistricting forcing an August 11th special election for a handful of congressional seats.

All congressional races will be on the ballot but results will not count today in only the 1st, 2nd, 6th and West Alabama's 7th Congressional Districts. The party nominees for those races will be selected in the special election.

Voters will be casting ballots, not only on state constitutional officers, legislators and members of congress but also on two constitutional amendments (Statewide Amendment 1 and Statewide Amendment 2 are also on the ballot) and in Pickens and Walker counties there are two local referendums.

The primary runoff election is June 16.

What You Need To Know

• Where do you vote? The Alabama Secretary of State’s website allows you to check voter registration and the location of your polling place. You can find it here.
• What do you need to take with you?
  • Alabama driver’s license (not expired or expired less than 60 days
  • Alabama Law Enforcement Agency digital driver’s license
  • Alabama Non-Driver ID (not expired or expired less than 60 days)
  • Alabama Photo Voter ID card
  • State-issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
  • Federal-issued ID
  • U.S. Passport
  • Employee ID from the federal government; state of Alabama; county; municipality, board or other entity of Alabama
  • Student or employee ID from a public or private post-secondary educational institution in Alabama or other states (including colleges, universities, postgraduate technical and professional schools)
  • Digital student or employee ID from a public or private post-secondary educational institution in Alabama or other states (including colleges, universities, postgraduate technical and professional schools)
  • Military ID
  • Tribal ID
• What's next? June 16 is the date for any runoffs needed.
• What congressional map is being used? Tuesday’s election can be found here.
• Why are some races not on the ballot? Some legislative races produced only one candidate in that party's primary so that candidate become nominee by default and the race is not listed on the ballot.
• What if I'm still waiting in line when polls close? If you are in line you will be allowed to vote.
• Where can I find more voter information? Alabama secretary of State website.

Go vote today! Democracy depemds on it!