Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill expects record voter turnout for Election Day 2016

Alabama is less than two weeks away from the November General Election and based on national and state-wide projections, this election is expected to show a record number of voters on Election Day.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill on Tuesday said he anticipates anywhere between 2.2 million and 2.4 million state voters to cast ballots in the upcoming election — either number would equate to a record turnout.

Merrill confirmed nearly half a million people have been registered to vote since January 2015, bringing the state voting register up to a historic 3.2 million voters, leading the Secretary to believe the enthusiasm to vote will lead to a higher turnout.

“That’s unsurpassed and unprecedented in the history of the State of Alabama”, Merrill said.

If the August primaries and municipal elections were any indication of what’s to come next month, Merrill may be correct in his assumptions.

“We had 1.2 million people participate in the primary, that’s the highest vote total for a primary in this state for a presidential or gubernatorial vote,” Merrill said.

More than two million Alabamians voted in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. Voter was 73.8 percent in 2008 and 73.2 percent in 2012.

The upcoming election the first presidential election that requires Alabamians to have a photo ID. Residents without an ID can get one here.

Monday was the last day to register to vote.

Alabama voting links:

• Locate your polling place
• Proposed amendments on 2016 ballot
• Sample ballots
• Military and overseas voter services