Last day to register for election is Monday; is earlier date obstacle to voting in Alabama?

Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood ... worries about early registration deadline.

MOBILE, Alabama - Monday is the last day to register in time to vote in next month's gubernatorial election, a deadline that is four days earlier than in the past because of a law passed earlier this year.

The deadline in previous years was 10 days for Election Day. But the Legislature moved that to 14 days before the Nov. 4 election. Supporters argued that registrars' offices needed more time to process last-minute applications.

But some critics contend that it was an attempt by the Republican-led Legislature to make it harder to vote.

"This is just yet another barrier to voting," Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood said.

Ludgood said she hopes people get the message.

"I'm concerned that people are not going to be aware," she said, adding that unless someone is "almost an insider on this issue, it will fly under the radar."

Marion Nettles, the chief clerk at the Mobile County Board of Registrars, said the office has seen a steady flow of voter registration applications and people updating their voter information. She said the extra four days will be helpful.

"It all depends on how many register at the last minute. We have had it where we have people lined up," she said. "That's going to help process them now."

Nettles said the office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. She asked people to bring a form of identification with them.

Ludgood said she visited the office Friday morning and found it quiet.

"I just left there," she said. "There was no one there."

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