Although voter registration deadlines have already passed for the March 1 Primary Election, those heading to the polls will have several things to remember for a smooth voting process.

In order to vote, individuals will be required to present a photo ID before voting.

The Alabama Legislature approved House Bill 19 during the 2011 Alabama Legislative Session.

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

Alabama voters now 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 of the following forms of valid photo ID to vote on March 1:

•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 of 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

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.

All polling places will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Chilton County Probate Judge Bobby Martin said individuals planning to vote on March 1 will be required to declare a party preference when registering.

“This is a party primary, so people will have to declare a party,” Martin said.

Martin said his biggest advice to voters is to find a sample ballot and familiarize themselves with the ballot before voting.

Copies of sample ballots are available on Page 6A of today’s newspaper.

“The ballot this time is very confusing so I would recommend folks go over what will be on the ballot before they head to the polls,” Martin said. “A lot of people don’t understand about the president and delegate race. There will be presidential candidates on the ballot who have already dropped out of the race.”

As of Friday, the presidential candidates still in the Republican race are:

•Ben Carson

•Donald Trump

•Marco Rubio

•Ted Cruz

•John R. Kasich

 

The presidential candidates still in the Democrat race are:

•Hillary Clinton

•Bernie Sanders

•Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente

 

“If people don’t want to vote for delegates, they don’t have to,” Martin said. “If they do vote for them, they can just match up the delegates with the presidential candidate they are voting for, but any mark they put on the ballot will get counted.”

Martin said individuals also need to remember to vote on the back page of the ballot, which includes local candidates.

“It is really important for people to remember to look on the back page because that is where a lot of the local races are,” Martin said. “We don’t want people forgetting about them because they have gotten so confused about the delegates.”

The local races appearing on the ballot include:

District Attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit, District Court Judge, and Chilton County Commission.

There are 12 commission candidates appearing on the ballot with seven of the commissioners advancing to the General Election in November.

Voters will have seven votes to cast for commissioners, and can choose to vote seven times for one commissioner, or split the vote for several commission candidates.