EMPOWERING VOTERS AND VOTING RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN ALABAMA: A TOOLKIT TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ..........................................................................................................................2 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................2 IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES ..................................................................................................4 WHO CAN VOTE .................................................................................................................................5 REGISTRATION ...................................................................................................................................5 VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT ............................................................................................................6 VOTING BY PROVISIONAL BALLOT ......................................................................................................7 VOTING ON ELECTION DAY .................................................................................................................7 ALABAMA'S CROSSOVER VOTING LAW ...............................................................................................8 ALABAMA'S VOTER ID LAW ................................................................................................................9 A GUIDE TO REGISTERING VOTERS IN ALABAMA ............................................................................... 11 REGISTERING VOTERS IN YOUR SCHOOL OR UNIVERSITY ................................................................... 12 GETTING PEOPLE TO THE POLLS ........................................................................................................ 14 VOTING RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME ........................................... 16 VOTING RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ............................................................................... 19 BUILDING ON THIS TOOLKIT ............................................................................................................. 20 RESOURCES...................................................................................................................................... 21 Please note: This guide was prepared by ACLU staff who are not licensed to practice law. The information found in this document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed legal professional, and it is not legal advice. INTRODUCTION ACLUALABAMA.ORG VOTING RIGHTS TOOLKIT| 2 Welcome to the ACLU of Alabama’s voting rights toolkit! The right to vote is the very cornerstone of our democracy. At the ACLU, we believe that registering and voting should be as easy as possible. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Complicated regulations, unnecessary voter ID laws, and redistricting has stalled and clogged the voting rights machine. We need to amend these problems and make sure that everybody knows and exercises their voting rights to ensure that our nation is representative, democratic, and fair. This toolkit is designed with a very simple purpose in mind: To present clear, effective guidelines for both exercising your right to vote and going out in your communities to empower others to do the same. We hope that this toolkit will be able to inspire and effectively teach best practices around organizing for voters’ rights. This toolkit is meant to be a “living” document, meaning that there is no static criteria. Take out parts of it, improve on some areas, tear out others: use this document in a way that will make sense for your particular community and goals. Each section in the toolkit will give you a brief overview of tips and tricks for achieving your goal, and there are relevant resources that explain the issue in further depth at the end. If you have a question, want to talk more about the information, or are interested in hosting a workshop around this document, please reach out to the ACLU of Alabama. Happy Voting! ACLUALABAMA.ORG VOTING RIGHTS TOOLKIT| 3 IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES ELECTION DAY IS ___________________________________________________ Voter registration deadline for the primary elections Last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the primary elections PRIMARY ELECTION Voter registration deadline for primary runoff election Last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the primary runoff election PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION (if necessary) Voter registration deadline for general election Last day to apply for an absentee ballot for general election GENERAL ELECTION QUICK TIPS FOR VOTERS • If you are eligible, you can vote before election day by completing an absentee ballot. • Make sure you have your photo ID with you. Accepted forms include a driver's license or passport. If you do not have a driver's license, you can also get a free voter ID by going to your registrar's office. • Take a minute to look up your polling place ahead of time to avoid confusion. • If you can, vote early in the day to avoid long lines. • Ask for and receive help if you need it as long as it is not from an employer or union representative. • If you think your rights have been violated, please let the ACLU of Alabama know at [email protected] or call the Alabama State Voter Hotline at 1-800-274-8683. ACLUALABAMA.ORG VOTING RIGHTS TOOLKIT| 4 WHO CAN VOTE Any person who meets the following criteria can register to vote in Alabama: • At least 18 years old on or before election day • Citizen of the United States • Resident of Alabama • Not barred due to a disqualifying felony conviction (see page 15) • Not declared mentally incompetent by a court (see page 18) REGISTRATION WHERE CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE? You may obtain a Voter Registration Form from any of the following: • Secretary of State's office or website (alabamavotes.gov) • Board of Registrar's office • Probate Judge/License Commissioner's office • County court house • Post office, public libraries, community centers, WIC office, welfare office WHEN CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE? You can register to vote at any time of year EXCEPT during the 14 days prior to and the day of Election. All voter registration applications must be postmarked, hand-delivered, or submitted to a participating voter registration location on the registration deadline. HOW CAN I UPDATE MY VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION? Any registered voter should notify voter registration officials as soon as possible with any changes such as a change of name or address. • When moving, you can get a form to update your voter registration when changing your address on the USPS website. You can then mail that form to the Board of Registrars. • You can also update your address at all polling places on Election Day. • Go online to alabamavotes.gov to register, check your registration status, or update your registration information at any time. ACLUALABAMA.ORG VOTING RIGHTS TOOLKIT| 5 VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT THE STATE OF ALABAMA DOES NOT HAVE EARLY VOTING. • If mailed, the ballot must be postmarked by no later than the day prior to the election. • If hand-delivered, the ballot must be in the office of the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business on the day prior to the election. HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT? • You will not be in your county of residence on Election Day. • You are ill or have a physical impairment that prevents you from being able to go to your polling location. • You are a registered Alabama voter living outside of the county (including members of the armed forces and spouses, students, and US citizens who are currently overseas). • You are an appointed election officer or poll watcher. • You work a required shift of at least ten hours that coincides with polling hours. • You are currently incarcerated for a non-disqualifying felony. HOW CAN I APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT? • You can write or go to your local Absentee Election Manager to obtain an application. Usually, this is the Circuit Clerk. • Download and print an absentee election application from alabamavotes.gov. • Submit the completed application to your Absentee Election Manager either in person or by US mail. • No absentee ballot application may be mailed in the same envelope as another voter's absentee ballot application. • If the office needs additional information, the Absentee Election Manager will contact you. They may request evidence on the reason for voting absentee if the voter has a history of absentee voting. • Absentee ballot applications must be received no later than the fifth calendar day before the election. ACLUALABAMA.ORG VOTING RIGHTS TOOLKIT| 6 VOTING BY PROVISIONAL BALLOT WHAT IS A PROVISIONAL BALLOT? A provisional ballot is provided if a voter's eligibility is called into question. For example, if a person does not have an ID with them, their name is not on the poll list, or their address is incorrect. If you do not have a photo ID with you at the polls, you can fill out a provisional ballot. You then have until 5pm on the first Friday following the election to submit a valid ID to the Board of Registrars. A voter who has requested an absentee ballot but has not received one can also vote by provisional ballot. VOTING ON ELECTION DAY WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT VOTING ON ELECTION DAY? • Take a minute to confirm your polling place before going to vote. • All campaigning that takes place on Election Day should be done at least 30 feet from the entrance to your polling place.