Chilton County voters heading to the polls for the June 3 Primary Election will now be required to present a photo ID prior to voting.

The change stems from the 2011 Alabama Legislative Session when the Legislature approved House Bill 19.

Gov. Robert Bentley signed the bill, and it was assigned Act No. 2011-673.

According to the bill, beginning with the June 3 primary election, an Alabama voter will have to present a specific type of photo identification at the polls in order to vote.

Alabama is among 34 states that require voter identification at the polls.

If a voter does not have one of the approved forms of photo ID as stated in the law, they may receive a free Alabama photo voter ID card.

Voters must show one of the following forms of valid photo ID to vote on June 3:

•Alabama driver’s license

•Alabama non-driver ID

•Alabama photo voter ID card

•State issued ID (Alabama or any other state)

•Federal issued ID

•Valid U.S. passport

•Employee ID from federal government, state of Alabama, county, municipality, board or other entity of the state of Alabama

•Student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)

•Student or employee ID issued by a state institution of higher learning in any other state

•Military ID

•Tribal ID

Sherry Cox who works at the Chilton County Board of Registrars said on Thursday that anyone who does not have one of the above listed ID cards could come to the registrar’s office that will issue one free of charge.

The card will only be used at voting polls.

“We have a blue screen and a camera and we can take the pictures here now,” Cox said. “It is similar to having a driver’s license picture made.”

Cox said the registrar’s office is not anticipating a lot of people needing to have an ID card made due to most people having some form of identification.

“So far, we haven’t had anyone come by, and I really don’t think we will have many at all,” Cox said.

According to Alabama Secretary of State Jim Bennett, a voter who is required to present a valid photo identification but who does not do so will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot as provided for by law.

A voter who does not have a valid photo ID in his or her possession at the polls will be permitted to vote a regular ballot if the individual is positively identified by two election officials as an eligible voter in their precinct.

Cox said for anyone needing to obtain a free photo ID card, they must provide a photo ID document, or a non-photo identity document can be used if it contains a full legal name and date of birth, documentation showing the voter’s date of birth (can be verified by information in the statewide voter file), documentation showing the person is a registered voter, and documentation showing the voter’s name and address as reflected in the voter registration record.

An individual eligible to vote by absentee ballot is not required to provide ID prior to voting.

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) includes anyone who is a member of the uniformed services (including his or her spouse and dependents), merchant marines, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It also includes anyone who is a U.S. citizen residing overseas whose last place of residency prior to moving overseas was in Alabama.

Cox said as of July 31, 2013, the total number of active voters in Chilton County was 25,492.

Cox said those wanting to become a registered voter in Chilton County before June 3 will have until May 20 to register.

The Board of Registrars office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

The office is located in the basement of the courthouse.

For more information, call 755-3820.