City prepares for Election Day

Paper: Daily Home, The ( Talladega, AL)

Date: August 5, 2007

When Talladega voters head out to the polls on Aug. 28 for the general municipal election, most voters will find themselves casting their ballots in different locations than they normally would for county, state and federal elections.

The last time the city underwent redistricting was in 2002, so people who voted in the 2003 municipal elections and have not moved since then will be visiting the same polling places they did four years ago. Residents of Ward 1, generally situated in the northwestern corner of the city and including West Gate, the Talladega College campus and the 275 Bypass north of Renfroe Road, will cast their ballots at the B.N. Mabra Center on 25th Street.

In Ward 2, which includes the Curry Court and Knoxville Homes communities and the areas in between north of Park Circle and South of Brecon Access Road will vote at the National Guard Armory on Broadway Avenue.

In Ward 3, which lies in the northeast corner of the city and includes the Brecon community and the eastern half of the silk stocking district, voters will head to the Spring Street Recreation Center on South Spring Street.

Those casting their ballots in Ward 4, which occupies most of the southeastern corner of the city and includes Ashland Highway, Taylors Mill Road, the east side of Allison Mill Road north of Waites Road and both sides of Allison Mill south of that, will vote at the Talladega High School Band Room.

Ward 5 voters, including residents of the Bemiston community and the southwest and central portion of the city, will cast their ballots at the John L. Moore Recreation Center on West Parkway in Bemiston.

Note that not all residents will actually vote in their ward. The National Guard Armory, where residents of Ward 2 vote, is actually located in Ward 3. The Spring Street Recreation Center, where Ward 3 residents vote, is in Ward 5.

The polling place for your ward is printed on the back of your voter registration card. If you have any questions about where you will be voting, please contact the Talladega County Board of Registrars at 256-761-2123.

Those who will not be able to vote at their regular polling place can pick up an absentee ballot application at City Hall. Regular absentee ballot applications will be available through Aug. 23, and emergency absentee ballot applications are available through Aug. 27.

In order to vote on site, the registered voter must provide either a current valid photo identification (such as a driver's license), a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other document that shows the name and address. Also permissible are a broad range of "other government documents," including a valid U.S. passport, a valid Alabama hunting and fishing license or pistol permit, a pilot's license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, a valid military identification, a certified copy of the voter's birth certificate, a valid Social Security card, a certified naturalization document, a certified copy of court records showing adoption or name change, a valid Medicaid, Medicare or food stamp ("electronic benefit transfer") card or a valid identification card issued by a branch, department, agency or entity of the state of Alabama or any other state, or the U.S., authorized by law to issue personal identification.

Recognition from two poll workers who know the voter and can vouch for his or her identity is also permissible.

A copy of one of the above acceptable forms of identification must be included with an absentee ballot as well.

The same polling places and identification rules for the runoff election Oct. 9.

Author: By Chris Norwood

Section: News