Modernizing Our Democracy to Engage First-Time Voters & Students Presented By Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill

Why is it important to modernize our democracy? Convenience We want to make it easy to vote and difficult to cheat. Contentment It helps to give the citizens peace of mind knowing that the most up-to-date technology is used to keep their personal info. safe. Encouragement We want the people to be excited about voting, which includes the children, who are the voters of tomorrow.

Convenience: Mobile Units The units travel the state where needed. Unregistered voters can register to vote in person..

Convenience: Mobile Units Registered voters can obtain a free photo voter ID if they don’t have another form of valid identification. Approximately 95 mobile units are sent out each year to visit shopping centers, colleges, churches, local events, etc.

Convenience & Contentment: Vote for Alabama App & Electronic Registration Available on the Apple App Store & Google Play Store The “Vote for Alabama” app allows unregistered voters to register online via their smartphone or tablet. The app allows registered voters to check their polling location and update their registration information.

Convenience & Contentment: Vote for Alabama App & Electronic Registration Those without smart devices can register online through the Secretary of State’s website. Only those with Alabama driver’s licenses or a Non-Driver’s identification card can use the electronic submission form, which helps to ensure that only Alabama residents can register. Electronic system is completely secure, meaning that your personal information is safe.

Convenience & Contentment: Electronic Poll Books Allow poll workers to check the names of each registered voter via an online system on Election Day. No longer a need to sift through a large stack of papers to locate a person’s name. They eliminate the possibility of a poll worker marking an incorrect name by mistake.

Convenience & Contentment: Electronic Poll Books System matches the voters’ names with their signature and ID, which eliminates the possibility of someone attempting to vote as someone else. The overall voting process is quicker and easier. Modernizing the voting process when security can be confirmed shows young people that the process is not as antiquated as one thought.

Convenience & Contentment: Electronic Poll Books 25 out of Alabama’s 67 counties participated in the Pilot Program during the General Election on November 8, 2016. Secretary Merrill’s goal is to have them in all 67 counties by 2022. Result of using Poll Books during the November 8, 2016 election: -Mobile County processed over 650 voters an hour with only four poll books on site. -Jackson County processed each voter in 27 seconds per person.

Encouragement: Voter Registration & Photo ID Promotional Posters Designed to appeal to voters and prospective voters of all ages to encourage participation. Uses famous and easily recognizable Alabamians to promote voter registration and voter participation.

Encouragement: Voter Registration & Photo ID Promotional Posters Posters & Promos throughout the years: 2015 Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban Auburn Head Football Coach Gus Malzahn

Encouragement: Voter Registration & Photo ID Promotional Posters Posters & Promos throughout the years: 2016 Heavy-weight Boxing Champion Deontay Wilder Former NBA Star Charles Barkley

Encouragement: Voter Registration & Photo ID Promotional Posters Posters & Promos throughout the years: 2017 NASA Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison Miss Alabama 2017 Jessica Procter

Encouragement: Voter Registration & Photo ID Promotional Posters Posters & Promos throughout the years: 2018 Radio Stars Rick & Bubba American Idol Season 5 Winner Taylor Hicks

Encouragement: 2016 Student Mock Election Was held for grades 4-12 so that students could voice their opinion in the presidential election. Was open to public, private, Christian, parochial, and home schools across the state. Participating helped the students learn about the voting process before reaching the voting age.

Encouragement: 2016 Student Mock Election Instilling excitement in the children helped to encourage parents and teachers who were involved in the process. The voting system was electronic. Schools could access the ballots by using their unique access code on the SOS website. 174,125 students from 441 schools from across the state participated on October 26, 2016.

Final Results As of May 18, 2018, Alabama has 3,377,815 registered voters. 980,963 people have registered to vote since Secretary Merrill took office on January 19, 2015. 388,399 people between the ages of 18 and 30 have registered since Secretary Merrill took office. Highest voter registration count in the state’s history.

Secretary John H. Merrill Additional Discussion Questions and Answers Secretary John H. Merrill John.Merrill@sos.alabama.gov 334-328-2787 (cell phone)