Similar to GA poll closing tactic, Alabama closed 45 of 49 driver's license offices

[diva77]

and has a voter ID law. This was reported back in Aug. 2015

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/8/25/1415384/-Despite-strict-voter-ID-laws-Alabama-is-in-the-process-of-closing-45-of-49-driver-s-license-offices

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This will no doubt have a devastating effect on lower-income residents. Considering 18.7% of residents live at "poverty level" and another 8.4% at extreme poverty levels, it's another blow that will surely leave more people behind. Can you imagine a single parent needing to take an entire day—or even two days—to travel to a driver's license office and then wait all day for their turn to take the test?

Perhaps most frightening about these closures is the effect it will have on voting in Alabama, where a conservative legislature passed a law in 2011 which requires a photo ID to vote. Alabama has already been on a steady decline (41% in November 2014) and these closures certainly won't help to bring those numbers up.

Intended or not, these office closures and the strict voter ID law will have an effect on government, policy and even safety (more people like to drive without a proper license) for a long time to come.

We've all been told "driving is a privilege, not a right." In Alabama, even securing a driver's license is about to become a privilege many cannot afford.
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[Hoyt]

1. Apparently, most of that 2015 article has either been reversed or was somewhat of an exaggeration.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/12/16767426/alabama-voter-suppression-senate-moore-jones

https://www.snopes.com/news/2015/10/01/alabama-drivers-license/


I don't doubt white wing Alabama would try some voter suppression junk like that -- they've done it before -- but apparently they had to reverse some actions and in most counties the probate office can issue driver licenses. The election office in Alabama -- and many other states -- will even come to your house, or a group registration event, to provide a photo ID, free of charge.

One can thank federal election laws and enforcement for this.

There is no excuse not to vote on November 6th.

[diva77]

2. Thank you for doing further research on this. Despite some "reversals" a quick glance at the page

listing DMV locations shows that most are open only 1 or 2 days per week for only a few hours; only about 5 of them are open 'til 5.Would be interesting to see demographics of the areas where a dmv is open only once a week for a couple of hours.

https://www.safemotorist.com/Alabama/DMV_Locations.aspx

Having voter ID laws is yet another tactic for voter suppression. So I wouldn't say all is well in AL if you want to vote .

[PDittie]

3. That's what Texas is doing now.

They're in rural parts of the state ... and the Republicans -- who cut their budget -- are the ones bitching.

https://www.reporternews.com/story/news/2018/08/23/dps-recommends-closing-baird-ballinger-snyder-sweetwater-big-country-driver-license-offices/1072594002/

"I do not support the closing of these DPS offices," (Lt. Gov. Dan) Patrick said in a written statement. "I believe the Senators on the Sunset Committee will also make their voice clear on this next week."

[Honeycombe8]

4. Dems in Alabama need to get together & run cars of people to get their licenses en masse.

This is what Earl Long candidate for governor in Louisiana many years ago. He personally went around, picked up poor blacks, and gave them rides to the polls to vote. Paul Newman played him in a movie. Good movie. Earl K Long won that election.

[Scurrilous]

5. ...