Voter IDs available in Adams County

Published 12:05 am Tuesday, February 11, 2014

NATCHEZ — Residents who don’t have one of nine other approved forms of identification can now receive a Mississippi voter identification card at the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s office.

Voter ID became a constitutional requirement in Mississippi after 62 percent of voters approved the measure in a 2011 statewide referendum.

The amendment required Mississippi voters to present a photo ID before casting a ballot in person at the polls.

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The new law will go into effect for the first time when voters go to the polls June 3.

Adams County Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker said his office is prepared to create the cards for residents, though none have been issued yet.

If an eligible voter does not have any of the acceptable forms of photo ID, a Mississippi voter ID card is provided at no cost to the voter.

Walker urged residents to review the other acceptable forms of identification before coming in for their card.

“We are happy to make them for anyone who needs them, but they do have to take an oath saying they don’t have any of the other IDs before we create one for them,” Walker said.

“We just want to make sure people don’t think they have to have one before they vote. They can have one of nine other types of identification and be perfectly fine.”

The other acceptable forms of identification include:

4Driver’s license.

4Photo ID issued by a branch, department or agency of the State of Mississippi.

4U.S. Passport.

4Employee ID issued by the U.S. Government, State of Mississippi or local government entity.

4Firearms permit.

4Tribal photo ID card.

4U.S. military photo ID card.

4Student photo ID card issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college or community college.

4Any other form of photo ID issued by a branch, department or agency of the U.S. government or any other state government, such as a driver’s license from another state. Out-of-state driver’s licenses and expired license no older than 10 years are acceptable.

Anyone in need of an ID can get one by providing a copy of any of the following documents or forms to circuit clerk officials:

4Any expired but valid document issued by the U.S. government or any U.S. state that shows the voter’s name and photograph.

4A birth certificate or other document with the voter’s full name, date and place of birth.

4A Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid card.

4A Mississippi voter registration card.

4A government check, utility bill, bank statement or utility bill issued within the preceding six months.

4IRS form W-2, wages and tax statements issued within the current calendar year.

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said in a press release his office is working diligently to issue the cards to all those in need prior to the June election.

“Voting is the key to our democracy,” Hosemann said.

“We are committed to ensuring everyone who is qualified to vote has the opportunity to cast a ballot.”

Those without ID may cast an affidavit ballot, which will be counted if the voter returns to the appropriate clerk’s office within five business days after the election and shows a government-issued ID.

Voters with a religious objection to being photographed may also vote affidavit, after which the voter returns to the clerk’s office and signs another affidavit that the religious exemption applies to them.

For more information regarding the voter ID cards, call Walker’s office at 601-446-6326.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.