Secretary of State Beth Chapman is thanking the Alabama Legislature for passing a bill to require voters to show a form of photo identification when voting. House Bill 19 was passed by the Senate by a vote of 22 to 10 and was sponsored by Representative Kerry Rich and carried in the Senate by Senator Gerald Allen.

“This is a great victory in the fight against voter fraud,” said Chapman.
“Every vote is sacred. This legislation will go a long way in protecting the rights of our great democracy. Representative Rich and Senator Allen are to be commended for the hard work they have done to protect Alabama voters with this important legislation.”

Chapman has pushed for similar photo identification legislation in the past and even highlighted the need for it in her inauguration speech earlier this year.

“In the next four years, my staff and I will strive to stop absentee voter fraud, create harsher penalties for those who dare commit it, and require photo identification at the polls,” Chapman said in her speech in January. “If a photo ID is required to rent a movie, then it should be required to participate in one of the greatest freedoms on earth—the right to vote.”

“Photo ID is just one step in the process and there is much left to be done,” said Chapman. “We will continue our fight to make sure every vote is counted and provide the most honest elections possible.”

(Information Source: Secretary of States Office)