HB186 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kerry Rich

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Voter identification, exemption for religious objection, created, Sec. 17-9-30 am'd.

Summary

HB186 would let voters who have a religious objection to being photographed vote without photo ID if they sign an affidavit of identity.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Alabama's voter ID law to create an exemption from the photo ID requirement for electors who object to being photographed for religious reasons, provided they sign an affidavit of identity sworn under oath. The affidavit must be on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State and provided by the election official, with perjury penalties for falsification. The exemption applies to those voting in person, and the law retains existing options and procedures (such as provisional ballots) for voters who cannot show ID, with the overall ID framework still in place. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

Who It Affects

• Voters who have a religious objection to being photographed, who would be allowed to vote without presenting photo ID if they sign an affidavit of identity.
• Election officials at county or municipal levels, who would administer and verify the affidavit of identity and process the exemption gatekeeping as part of the voting process.

Key Provisions

• Adds an exemption from the voter photo identification requirement for electors with a religious objection to being photographed, if they execute an affidavit of identity sworn under perjury.
• The affidavit must be on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State and provided by the county or municipal election official; falsification of information on the affidavit can be charged as a crime (perjury).
• The exemption is described in relation to the overall voting process, preserving other ID options for those who do not claim the religious objection and maintaining existing provisional voting procedures for cases where ID cannot be shown.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is passed and approved by the Governor.

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