If you’re planning to vote in one of the four municipal elections in Liberty County in November, plan to bring photo identification to the polling site, also.
A federal judge recently upheld Georgia’s voter identification law, after years of court battles, citing that the statute does not impose a significant burden on the right to vote.
U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy, in a 159-page ruling, said challengers to the law were “hard-pressed to show that voters in Georgia, in general, are not aware of the photo ID requirement.”
Additionally, the judge wrote that citizens without a photo ID had the option of absentee voting, which does not require such documentation.
Excluding another appeal, Murphy’s decision has cleared the last obstacle to enforcing the state’s voter ID law, originally approved during the 2005 legislative session.
Georgia voters heading to the polls will now be required to show a valid state or federal government issued photo ID, active or expired Georgia Driver’s License, federal, state, county or municipal employee photo ID, U.S. passport, military ID or tribal photo identification.
Voters lacking one of these forms of identification can pick up a free Georgia voter ID card from the Liberty County Voter Registration Office or any Georgia Department of Driver Services location.
“The service is here for voters and they should take advantage of it,” Liberty County Chief Registrar Ella Golden said, adding residents should know their ID status soon. “It’s better to prepare ahead of time, but they can get a (free Georgia voter) IDs on Election Day.”
To obtain a free voter ID card, citizens must provide a photo identity document or approved non-photo identity document that includes full legal name and date of birth, documentation showing the voter’s date of birth, evidence the applicant is a registered voter and documentation showing the applicant’s name and residential address.
About 3,000 free voter ID cards have been issued throughout the state, Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel said in a recent interview.
For more information about the new ID requirements or how to obtain a free voter ID card, call the Liberty County Voter Registration at 876-3310 or visit www.gaphotoid.com
A federal judge recently upheld Georgia’s voter identification law, after years of court battles, citing that the statute does not impose a significant burden on the right to vote.
U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy, in a 159-page ruling, said challengers to the law were “hard-pressed to show that voters in Georgia, in general, are not aware of the photo ID requirement.”
Additionally, the judge wrote that citizens without a photo ID had the option of absentee voting, which does not require such documentation.
Excluding another appeal, Murphy’s decision has cleared the last obstacle to enforcing the state’s voter ID law, originally approved during the 2005 legislative session.
Georgia voters heading to the polls will now be required to show a valid state or federal government issued photo ID, active or expired Georgia Driver’s License, federal, state, county or municipal employee photo ID, U.S. passport, military ID or tribal photo identification.
Voters lacking one of these forms of identification can pick up a free Georgia voter ID card from the Liberty County Voter Registration Office or any Georgia Department of Driver Services location.
“The service is here for voters and they should take advantage of it,” Liberty County Chief Registrar Ella Golden said, adding residents should know their ID status soon. “It’s better to prepare ahead of time, but they can get a (free Georgia voter) IDs on Election Day.”
To obtain a free voter ID card, citizens must provide a photo identity document or approved non-photo identity document that includes full legal name and date of birth, documentation showing the voter’s date of birth, evidence the applicant is a registered voter and documentation showing the applicant’s name and residential address.
About 3,000 free voter ID cards have been issued throughout the state, Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel said in a recent interview.
For more information about the new ID requirements or how to obtain a free voter ID card, call the Liberty County Voter Registration at 876-3310 or visit www.gaphotoid.com