Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill announced Monday that the state has launched efforts to implement electronic voter registration.

The registration effort aims to save taxpayer dollars, increase accuracy of voter rolls and provide a convenient, yet secure option for Alabamians who wish to register or update their information, according to a press release. Voters have the ability to register via the Secretary of State’s website at www.alabamavotes.gov. Once the registration is complete, a paperless form is submitted electronically to the board of registrars office in the resident’s home county.

Officials with the Escambia County Board of Registrars said that a few voters have taken advantage of the new service.

The deadline to register to vote in the March 1 primary is Feb. 15.

“One of the most fundamental rights we as Americans are afforded is our right to vote,” Merrill said. “It is incumbent upon us as election officials to leverage technology wherever we can to facilitate the voting process. We want every eligible Alabamian to be afforded the right to vote, as well as participate in the electoral process, and the new implementation of electronic voting registration will allow them to do so.”

To submit an application to register to vote, citizens must meet the following requirements: be a citizen of the United States, reside in the State of Alabama, be at least 18 years of age on or before election day, cannot be barred from voting by reason of a disqualifying felony conviction and cannot have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law. In addition to those requirements, citizens must have a valid Alabama Driver’s License or valid Alabama Non-Driver’s Identification card to submit an electronic voter registration application.