Voting in Alabama

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General Election

11/05/2024
General Election Date
10/21/2024
Voter Registration Deadline (online, in-person, by mail - postmarked)

Vote By Mail Deadlines

10/29/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
11/05/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

Early Voting Dates

09/11/2024
Early Voting Begins
10/31/2024
Early Voting Ends

Polling place hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Register to Vote

How to Vote in Alabama

Learn about all the options to vote in Alabama to make a plan to vote that works for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Alabama Board of Elections Phone Number: (334) 242-7200

Alabama Board of Elections Website

Having trouble at the polls?

Call or text: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Register to Vote in Alabama

Whether you are registering to vote for the first time, or need to update your address, name or party affiliation - we've got you covered!

Am I Registered?

Not sure if you are eligible to vote due to a felony conviction?
Click here to learn more.

Alabama Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! You can check your voter registration online on Alabama’s elections office website here, or you can contact the Board of Elections at 1-800-274-8683.

It can take several weeks. Most states send out voter registration cards within 5 to 7 weeks after receiving the registration. If you do not receive a registration card in the mail, contact your state election office to confirm you are registered. Find your state’s contact information in our How to Vote in Your State section on this page! In any event, you should verify your registration a week prior to the voter registration deadline in your state in case you need to fill out a new registration form or correct your form.

Elections take place all the time throughout the year, and odds are, you probably have an election coming up in your state! In addition to the presidential election and midterm elections, you have statewide, countywide and municipal elections that you can make your voice heard in. Make sure you know when your upcoming elections are so that you don’t miss a single one! Check out when your next election is here.

Your state provides an online ballot tracking system. You can track your ballot here!

YES you are able to register to vote at your student address. You should provide your official campus mailing address as well as the actual physical address of your on or off campus residence when registering to vote. You must have some sort of proof of address and residency that can be presented at your polling place (mail, a student ID, etc.). For more information, we suggest visiting your state’s elections office. Remember: you can only register to vote and vote in one place, whether that is your student address or your home address!

YES, unhoused voters can register to vote and use their voice in Alabama’s elections. Unhoused voters or voters without a permanent address may list a shelter address, street corner, or park as their address. For more information on voting while unhoused, visit our friends at the National Coalition for the Homeless.

YES. In this case you must register at the last address you had before you left the USA, or at the address to which you will return to when returning to the USA (you must present some indication of a present intent to return and live there – e.g. vehicle registration, driver’s license, property ownership, family, etc). If you have never had a permanent address in the United States but are a citizen you are allowed to register at an address you plan on moving to or an address where you currently have family living. Access more information on voting overseas here.

You may call the voting rights hotline at 866 687-8683, if informing another poll worker isn’t successful. They have lawyers ready to help you. Additionally, you can call the civil rights division of the U.S Department of Justice.

You can also find Alabama’s elections office here and contact them by phone at 334-242-7210.

Vote By Mail

Request and track

Notice: Mail-in voting is a convenient and safe way to vote, but your ballot might not count if it’s submitted late or with errors. So follow the directions below on how to vote early or absentee and make your vote count in Alabama.

Vote By Mail Deadlines

10/29/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
11/05/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

Excuse required to vote by mail.

How Vote By Mail Works in Alabama

Voting by mail is a two step process in Alabama.

Step 1: Request your ballot NOW. The deadline for your application to be received by mail is the Tuesday before Election Day, and in person is the Thursday before Election Day.

  • Include a copy of your photo ID with your request
  • You need an excuse to vote by mail in Alabama. Info here on what qualifies.

Step 2: Complete and return your ballot ASAP.

  • Make sure to sign your ballot in front of two adult witnesses or one notary. They must sign it too.
  • Return in person to your local Absentee Election Manager on or before the day before Election Day at 5 p.m. Find your local Election Manager here.
  • Or you can stamp and return by mail to your local Absentee Election Manager so that it is received by 12 p.m. noon on Election Day. We recommend mailing your ballot at least two weeks before as the post office is not always reliable. The best intentions or postmark will not matter if your ballot is received after Election Day - your ballot will not count.

Click Here to See Your Ballot

Witness or Notary Requirement

Grab two friends! After you complete your ballot, you must sign the affidavit oath on the return envelope in the presence of two adult witnesses or one notary. They must sign, too.

Where to Sign Your Ballot

Remember to sign your return ballot.

Note that your ballot will come with three envelopes. You must use them all!

(1) Seal the ballot in the blank secrecy envelope provided.

(2) Place that envelope inside the envelope with an affidavit, and seal in the presence of two adult witnesses or a notary. Sign the affidavit. The witnesses or notary must sign, too.

(3) Lastly, place the affidavit envelope in the pre-addressed outer envelope. If you do not follow the instructions and use all three envelopes your ballot could be tossed.

 

ID Requirements to Vote By Mail

All voters are required to provide ID when voting by mail.

ID is required with application to vote by mail.

Go ahead and make one copy of your photo ID! You need to include a copy of your photo ID with your application to vote by mail. Info here on what qualifies as photo ID in Alabama.  If no ID is provided, the ballot becomes provisional and your ballot will not be counted unless you provide a valid ID to the registrar within the time provided for provisional ballot cure.

How You Can Return Your Mail-in Ballot

If you return your ballot by mail, you must add a stamp when mailing in your ballot. You can also return your ballot via commercial delivery services, such as FedEx or UPS (at your expense).

You can also drop off your ballot in person at your local elections office.

Can Someone Else Return Your Ballot For You?

Only you may return your ballot.

Track Your Ballot

Track your ballot by clicking here.

Haven't used your ballot?

If you have an absentee ballot that you are not going to use, or you miss the deadline to return, you may go to your polling place and vote in person. You may be asked to use a provisional ballot. If you vote a provisional ballot, it will be counted once it is confirmed that you did not vote by mail.

Opportunities to Fix Challenges to Your Ballot

Alabama does not offer voters a chance to address challenges to their ballot. Your ballot will not count if it is late, or you do not follow directions.

Voter ID

Do Voters Need ID?

Voters in Alabama are required to show ID at the polls. It must be unexpired. Valid forms of identification include:

  • Valid Driver’s License (not expired or has been expired less than 60 days)
  • Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Digital Driver’s License
  • Valid Non-driver ID (not expired or has been expired less than 60 days)
  • Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Digital Non-driver ID
  • Valid Alabama Photo Voter ID
  • Valid State Issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
  • Valid US Passport
  • Valid Employee ID from Federal Government, State of Alabama, County Government, Municipality, Board, Authority, or other entity of this state
  • Valid student or employee ID from a college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
  • Valid Military ID
  • Valid Tribal ID
  • Valid AL Department of Corrections Release- Temporary ID (Photo Required)
  • Valid AL Movement/Booking Sheet from Prison/Jail System (Photo Required)
  • Valid Pistol Permit (Photo Required)
  • Valid Federal Issued ID

Voter ID in Alabama

Find Your Ballot

Enter your address below to see what you can expect on Election Day.

Primaries

Automatic Registration

Your state automatically registers people to vote at the address on their drivers license or other state issued ID card. If you have moved but have not updated your ID with your new address, changed your name or want to add a political party selection, you must update your voter registration. Click here to check to see if you are registered to vote, and update your registration if needed.

Election Day Registration

You can register to vote and cast your ballot on Election Day at your polling place or local elections office. Bring a valid ID and proof of residence with you.

In-Person Absentee Voting

In-Person Absentee Dates

09/11/2024
Voting Begins
10/31/2024
Voting Ends

You can vote in-person absentee in Alabama

Alabama voters may vote in person with an absentee ballot through the absentee ballot deadline at their county courthouse. This means you come to the courthouse with your valid photo ID, request a ballot from the clerk, fill out your ballot and return to the clerk, who will notarize the ballot when you return it. An excuse is needed to vote in person absentee.

 

Preregister

Some states have laws that specifically allow citizens to preregister at a certain age while others allow registration as long as you’re 18 by the next election. Preregistration means you’ll be automatically registered to vote on your 18th birthday without taking any additional steps.

In Alabama, you can preregister to vote if you are 18 by the next election. Register to vote today!

Some states even let you vote in their primaries at 17 if you’ll be 18 by the general election so you can participate in the whole process!

You can not vote in the Alabama primaries if you are 17 by the next election.