Voter registration spikes in Alabama as Election Day approaches

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – With Election Day fast approaching, so is the deadline to register to vote.

Secretary of State Wes Allen says the state has just over 3.8 million Alabamaians registered to vote, which he says is about 94% of voting-age residents in the state.

“We’ve seen an uptick in registration, especially over the last month or so,” Allen said.

The Jefferson County Board of Registrars says not only has there been an uptick in people registering to vote over the last month but more people already registered have been making sure their voter information is up to date.

“The last week of June and the debate carried right on over into the RNC, had their convention. Then you had all the breaking news about the Democrats changing their presidential nominee and now we’re less than a week away from the DNC convention,” Jefferson County Board of Registrars chairman Barry Stephenson said. “There’s just been a lot in the news, both nationally and locally, so it’s generated interest here in the summer.”

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While voter registration is in the 90th percentile, voter turnout has historically been significantly lower.

“Low turnout in the primary back in March and of course, in the primary runoff back in April of this year,” Allen said. “Presidential years seem to be higher turnout. I think in 2020, it was about 63% in the general election. In 2016, it was about 66% in the general election, so we’ll probably see some number comparable to that.”

Some people say that even though there might be some fatigue among voters now with the current political cycle, it’s important to still show up to the polls.

“You have to speak up, you have to speak out and you also have to know to vote in spite of. Vote in spite of your feelings, vote in spite of how you feel, how you think you should feel because you are making a difference whether you vote or not,” Miles College senior Jaeden Henderson said.

“We want to get you registered to vote. We don’t care who you vote for but it’s important that you get out and make your voice known,” Democracy Trailblazers managing partner Loretta Moore said. “If you don’t speak up and vote, then you can’t make a difference. I know a lot of times, a lot of people think their voice doesn’t count, it doesn’t matter, but your vote does matter.”

The deadline to register to vote is October 21. A link to register and all other voter information can be found here.

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