Warning: 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.
Note - this information below may change for your state due to ongoing litigation and legislation. This page will be updated within 24 hours of any change.
You can vote in-person absentee in your state.
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.
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, November 1st, and in person is the Thursday before Election Day, November 3rd.
Due to COVID-19, your state has expanded vote by mail access for the November 2020 election. That means that ‘COVID-19’ qualifies as an excuse to request your absentee ballot.
P.S. If COVID-19 wasn’t affecting the U.S. right now, your state would have stricter requirements for you to qualify to vote by mail.
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.
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.
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.
You must add a stamp when mailing in your ballot.
Return your ballot via commercial delivery services, such as FedEx or UPS (at your expense)
Only you may return your ballot.
Look Up Ballot Drop Off LocationsTo track your ballot, use the Alabama Votes Portal. For more information, contact your county's Absentee Election Manager. 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.
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.
The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition was formed to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. Made up of more than 100 local, state and national partners, Election Protection works year-round to advance and defend the right to vote.
Call 866-OUR-VOTE if you need assistance.
Find your polling place, ID laws, and more about voting for the first time below.