Posted by Michelle/AL on 10/13/13 9:30pm
Msg #488000

Alabama Photo Voter ID Law

Alabama Notaries, have any of you been following this proposed legislation? I haven't. But today I was on the SOS site and clicked the link to a draft the proposed law. Several things caught my eye:

1. Voters will have a choice of going to the Board of Registrars to obtain the card; or complete an application for the card and have it notarized prior to being processed.

2. There is also mention of a "mobile unit" that will process applications and take photos of being applying for cards. The legislation refers to the mobile unit as being a "vendor".

3. In 2014 "at the first statewide election", if a person goes to the poll to vote but doesn't have proper ID, election officials at the poll can serve as credible witnesses and an affidavit must be notarized.

4. Legal representation for SOS has defined what acceptable ID will be to process and notarize these forms. I was suprised at what was on the list (if I read it correctly).

I think we should keep an eye on this. Unfortunately the "comment" period expired on 9/4. I would've like to have asked some clarifying questions about the whole process. Hopefully there will be some Town Hall Meetings later.

Alright, I'm going to attempt to link to the site:

http://www.sos.alabama.gov/downloads/press/17-9-30_Regs_6-28-13.pdf

If it fails to work, just go to AL SOS the hyperlink is on the main page near the center of the page: Alabama Voter Photo ID.

Those of us who are mobile notaries might want to be prepared. I'm not implying that there's a chance to make money on this. But I am implying that we may be called to notarize two new affidavits that we haven't seen before.

Reply by Darlin_AL on 10/14/13 12:23pm
Msg #488066

100 yrs ago, when I registered to vote in AL

(we had moved to the state) the county registrar used my DL (photo id). A sweet lady, like we have many of here in this county, let me register for my husband also--(as he worked a job where no time off was allowed for anything, or they hired somebody else.) Of course, we couldn't do it that way today, and probably only in this laid-back rural county could I have done it then.
Great link Michelle! I am going to check into the details involved w/the registrar & our Probate Judge. (He has his finger on the pulse of everything going on in this state, county & has been a good friend to me & our family.)
Michelle, if I am volunteering at the polls as a notary, I will only be asking the $5 the state allows, or not charge some at all. But that's ok for me, I am happy to be able to provide some community service. Actually, the volunteer squad at my polling place knows most of the voters, and their family members. So, I'm not thinking it would be a big exposure to risk for me.
When I got my absentee ballot from the county clerk last year, he let me vote "early" right then & notarized it for me himself (no charge).
BUT, for the communities w/the normally large populations, I could see where a notary at the polls could really make some cash. I'm sure the new forms will look like the one on the absentee ballot & include the acknowledgments for "witness" id's, "x" etc. Since we can use a variety of docs to satisfy ourselves who the person is (in AL) I think its going to be ez. The SOS explained to me, our standard in AL is just that I have to be satisfied for myself--then I "know" the person. Yes, before anybody jumps on, I am judicious as to what the doc is I'm notarizing & the "scenario" of the signer. Thanks for posting!

Reply by VT_Syrup on 10/14/13 12:50pm
Msg #488073

Re: 100 yrs ago, when I registered to vote in AL

1. It would probably be a bad idea to charge for some people and not for others. Although the notary might not know the party affiliation of the voter, some spectator will and any imbalance in the total charged to donkeys vs. elephants will be perceived as bias.

2. If a notary is allowed to charge for elections-related notarizations, I wonder who would pay. Not the voter; poll taxes are unconstitutional, and every fee related to voting tends to be interpreted as a poll tax, no matter what the person imposing the fee calls it.

Reply by EileenHI on 10/14/13 12:42pm
Msg #488070

This could be a good idea.... provided that the mobile registration units go to places where people who have a difficult time getting to an office have the opportunity to register. However, would the notary be required to 'volunteer' or would they be paid by the state for their services either during regular registrations or in the polling place? I read through the law, just out of curiosity, but really did not see that addressed. If this works well, other states may look at it as a possibility.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 10/15/13 9:12pm
Msg #488264

You're Welcome

I'm just glad someone found value in this information. I, too, would be reluctant to charge even the $5 fee for these especially with the SOS office picking up the other fees. Darlin, let me know what you find out from your Probate Judge. By the way, I'm sending out invites to the big Notary Day celebration. If you don't mind telling me your county I'll make sure your Judge gets his. SOS Bennett will be there.