SB166 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Tammy IronsQuinton RossWilliam “Bill” M. BeasleyRodger Smitherman

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Election, photo identification, operative for 2014 General Election, Sec. 17-9-30 am'd.

Summary

SB166 extends photo ID requirements to the 2014 General Election and creates a free Alabama Photo Voter Identification Card for voting.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Section 17-9-30 to make the photo ID requirements established by Act 2011-673 operative for the 2014 General Election and future elections. It lists acceptable forms of photo ID, including Alabama driver’s license or nondriver ID, the Alabama photo voter identification card, US passport, US or Alabama government employee IDs, college IDs with a photo, US military IDs, and tribal IDs. It creates the Alabama Photo Voter Identification Card, to be issued by the Secretary of State at no cost, valid only for voting, with required information and rules about issuance and surrender if a voter moves. For absentee ballots, voters must submit a copy of an approved ID with the ballot, and voters who lack ID can vote a provisional ballot; the Secretary of State must inform the public and establish rules.

Who It Affects

• Registered Alabama voters, who must show valid photo ID at the polls for the 2014 General Election (or use the free Alabama Photo Voter Identification Card) and must surrender the card if they move out of state or change address within the state.
• Voters voting absentee ballots, who must include a copy of one of the approved forms of identification with their ballot.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 17-9-30 to make Act 2011-673 photo ID requirements operative in the 2014 General Election and thereafter.
• Defines acceptable forms of photo ID: Alabama driver’s license or nondriver ID; Alabama photo voter ID card; US passport; government or state employee IDs; college IDs with photo; US military ID; tribal ID.
• Creates the Alabama Photo Voter Identification Card, issued by the Secretary of State at no cost, valid only for voting, with specified data, and rules for issuance and surrender when moving within or out of state.
• Requires absentee ballots to include a copy of ID; provides for provisional ballots if ID is not presented; includes exemptions for certain federal voting acts.
• Allows the Secretary of State to contract with private providers for card production; funding for card production comes from the General Fund for Registration of Voters; Secretary of State must inform the public and set implementing rules under APA.
• Card validity lasts as long as the voter remains qualified and resides at the same address; moving within Alabama requires surrender and potential new card; moving out of state requires surrender.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections