Montgomery, AL – Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has announced significant results from the Alabama Voter Integrity Database (AVID), a voter file maintenance system developed and implemented by his office in September 2023. The system, designed to enhance election integrity, has led to the removal or identification of nearly one million voter records requiring updates.
Upon taking office, Allen withdrew Alabama from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), fulfilling a campaign promise. Following that decision, he and his team worked to create AVID as an Alabama-based alternative. According to Allen, the system has streamlined the process of identifying outdated or incorrect voter registrations.
“When I came into office, Alabama’s voter file was a bloated mess,” Allen stated. “Today, I am incredibly proud to showcase what happens when you roll up your sleeves and deliver results.”
AVID operates through four key components:
- A cooperative agreement with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to track residency changes.
- Use of the United States Postal Service’s National Change of Address file.
- Access to federal Social Security death records to identify deceased voters.
- Agreements with bordering states to cross-check voter registrations.
To date, Alabama has signed Memorandums of Understanding with Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida, allowing cross-state voter verification. The implementation of AVID has produced the following results:
- Nearly 40,000 voters identified as having moved to neighboring states.
- Over 5,000 deceased voters removed using Social Security Death Index data.
- More than 130,000 voters flagged for potential removal due to ALEA data showing out-of-state moves.
- 116,286 voter registrations removed in February through the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) process.
- Over 700,000 individuals set to receive notices to begin the NVRA removal process.
- Approximately 25,000 voters identified with no driver’s license or Social Security number linked to their registration, prompting requests for updated information.
Allen emphasized that AVID’s success is due in part to the efforts of Alabama’s Boards of Registrars, adding that the system has positioned Alabama as a leader in election integrity efforts.
“Through AVID, we have identified over 1 million voters that were due to be removed from Alabama’s voter file or needed to update their information,” Allen said. “Because of AVID, Alabama has become a blueprint state in election integrity.”
As Alabama’s 54th Secretary of State, Allen oversees election administration and more than 1,000 additional duties.
