Alabama General Election
Last update: Oct 15, 2026 01:13 a.m. EDT
Last update: Oct 14, 2026 01:33 a.m. EDT
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Registration Summary
Alabama offers online voter registration. You can register by mail to vote in Alabama by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your Board of Registrars. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer.
Voting Summary
Alabama offers absentee ballots by mail to voters who will be unable to vote in person. All other voters are expected to vote in person.
19 days to Election Day!
- Vote by mail: see if you’re eligible and download and return your absentee ballot request form by Oct 27.
- Visit the Alabama website to find where to vote.
- You may need to show an ID when you vote in person. See the “Do I need to bring an ID?” section below to learn more.
Register to Vote
Check that you're registered to vote on Alabama's website.
If you’re not registered:
- Register online by Oct 19.
- Your by mail registration form must be postmarked by Oct 19.
How can I check the status of my mail ballot?
You can check the status of your ballot on Alabama’s website.
How do election officials keep voting secure?
Election officials in your state and community are working hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. All states have implemented security measures to protect the vote.
Visit the Alabama Office of the Secretary of State website to learn more about election security. If you’re interested in getting involved with elections in your community, contact your Absentee Election Manager to learn about opportunities in your area.
How do I vote in person?
Where can I vote on Election Day?
You can look up where to vote on Alabama's site.
Can I vote before Election Day?
No, Alabama does not offer an early voting period. If you will be unable to vote in person on Election Day, Alabama does offer absentee voting with an excuse in-person or by mail. You can request an absentee ballot by mail or by visiting the office of your local Absentee Election Manager. Visit the Alabama Office of the Secretary of State website to check the eligibility requirements for absentee voting.
What do I need to bring?
You will need to show photo ID to vote in Alabama.
Acceptable forms of valid photo ID include:
- Alabama driver's license (may be expired up to 60 days)
- Alabama non-driver's ID card (may be expired up to 60 days)
- Alabama photo voter ID card
- photo ID card issued by Alabama or any other state (examples include AL Department of Corrections Release - Temporary ID, AL Movement/Booking Sheet from Prison/Jail System, or a pistol permit)
- federal government-issued ID
- US passport
- employee ID card issued by the federal government, the State of Alabama, county, municipality, board or other entity in Alabama
- student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools) or student or employee ID issued by a state institution of higher learning in any other state
- US military ID
- tribal ID
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. In order for your ballot to be counted, you must provide your ID, including your address and your telephone number, to the board of registrars no later than 5:00 P.M. on the Friday following the election. If you fail to provide ID to the board of registrars by that time, your ballot will not be counted. In addition, voters who do not show valid photo ID at the polls can vote a regular ballot if they are positively identified by two election officials as a voter on the poll list who is eligible to vote and the election officials sign a sworn affidavit.
Can I register to vote online?
- Alabama offers online voter registration.
- To register online in Alabama, you need a valid Alabama driver's license or an Alabama non-driver's identification card. If you don’t have an Alabama-issued ID, you can still register by mail.
Can I submit voter registration forms by mail?
Yes, you can submit your voter registration application by mail using the National Voter Registration Form or the Alabama voter registration form.
Once you confirm that you’re eligible to vote, print your form and fill it out.
To complete the National Voter Registration Form, use these instructions to fill out the following fields:
Box 6 - ID Number:
To submit a voter registration application by mail in Alabama, you must provide your Alabama driver's license number OR non-driver ID number, if you have one. If you do not have either of these ID numbers, you must instead provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.
If you have not been issued any of these ID numbers, indicate this on the form.
Box 7 - Choice of Party: You are NOT required to register with a party to participate in Alabama primary elections. However, you must declare a political party preference to receive that party’s primary ballot when you vote. If you do not wish to select a party when voting, you can vote on nonpartisan contests or measures, if there are any.
Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: In Alabama, you are required to indicate your race or ethnic group in the relevant box. However, your voter registration application will not be rejected if you fail to do so.
If you are registering to vote for the first time in your county and submit your registration application by mail, federal law requires you to provide a COPY of proof of identification with your application OR show acceptable documentation when you vote. Acceptable forms of identification include a current and valid photo ID OR a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address. More information about these requirements is available on the National Voter Registration Form.
- You may be exempt from federal proof of identification requirements if you are entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act or another federal law.
- Depending on your state, you may need to show additional identification when you vote, even if you meet federal identification requirements.
Once you’ve filled out all required fields on the form you selected, sign the completed form and send it to your Board of Registrars.
If you plan to return your application through the mail, be sure to mail your voter registration application before the deadline to ensure it's timely postmarked. Keep in mind that USPS might not postmark your mail on the day it's dropped off. You can also request a manual postmark at the counter of a USPS office. Find a USPS location near you.
How do I vote by mail?
Alabama allows eligible voters to request a mail ballot. All other voters are expected to vote in person. Check to see if you’re eligible to vote by mail on Alabama's site.
How do I get my ballot?
See if you’re eligible and download your absentee ballot form. We recommend you request your absentee ballot at least two weeks before the Oct 27 deadline to make sure you have time to receive and cast your ballot before the election.
What should I do if I don’t get my ballot?
If you don’t receive your ballot in the mail, then contact your Absentee Election Manager.
How do I return my ballot?
- Read the instructions carefully on how to mark and return your ballot.
- You can return your ballot by mail or by visiting a dedicated drop off location.
- Contact your Absentee Election Manager for more information about where to return your ballot in person.
- If you choose to return your ballot by mail, the United States Postal Service (USPS) recommends that voters mail their completed ballots at least one week before the due date. Find a USPS location near you.
What do I need to do if I’ve moved?
What’s on your ballot depends on where you live, so your voter registration is tied to your exact address. If you’ve moved, you need to re-register with your new address.
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
No, this election does not offer in-person registration on Election Day.
Can I submit voter registration forms in person?
- You can complete a voter registration application in person. Contact your Board of Registrars for information on when and where to register to vote.
- Learn more by visiting the Alabama Office of the Secretary of State website or contacting your Board of Registrars.
What are key deadlines for this election?
Registration deadlines
- In-person at local election office : Oct 19 close of business
- Online : Oct 19 by 11:59 p.m. CDT
- By mail (postmarked by) : Oct 19
Absentee ballot deadlines
- Request ballot (received by) : Oct 27
- Return ballot by mail (received by) : Nov 3 by 12:00 p.m. CST
- Return ballot in person : Nov 2 close of business
Do I need to bring an ID to vote in person?
You will need to show photo ID to vote in Alabama.
Acceptable forms of valid photo ID include:
- Alabama driver's license (may be expired up to 60 days)
- Alabama non-driver's ID card (may be expired up to 60 days)
- Alabama photo voter ID card
- photo ID card issued by Alabama or any other state (examples include AL Department of Corrections Release - Temporary ID, AL Movement/Booking Sheet from Prison/Jail System, or a pistol permit)
- federal government-issued ID
- US passport
- employee ID card issued by the federal government, the State of Alabama, county, municipality, board or other entity in Alabama
- student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools) or student or employee ID issued by a state institution of higher learning in any other state
- US military ID
- tribal ID
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. In order for your ballot to be counted, you must provide your ID, including your address and your telephone number, to the board of registrars no later than 5:00 P.M. on the Friday following the election. If you fail to provide ID to the board of registrars by that time, your ballot will not be counted. In addition, voters who do not show valid photo ID at the polls can vote a regular ballot if they are positively identified by two election officials as a voter on the poll list who is eligible to vote and the election officials sign a sworn affidavit.
How do I see what's on my ballot?
View official ballot information on the Alabama Office of the Secretary of State website, if available.
How do I get help registering to vote?
TurboVote can help you make your plan to vote. They can help you start the registration process, learn how to vote by mail, send you election reminders, and more.
Who can register to vote?
To register in Alabama you must:
- be a United States citizen
- be a resident of Alabama and your county at the time of registration
- be 18 years old on or before Election Day
- have not been convicted of a disqualifying felony (or have had rights restored). You can find the list of disqualifying felonies on the Secretary of State’s website at sos.alabama.gov/mtfelonies
- have not been legally declared "mentally incompetent" by a court
- swear or affirm to "support and defend the Constitution of the US and the State of Alabama and further disavow any belief or affiliation with any group which advocates the overthrow of the governments of the US or the State of Alabama by unlawful means and that the information contained herein is true"
How do I vote if I'm in the military or live overseas?
Active-duty military, their families, and overseas citizens can register to vote and request their absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA process is done by mail, but your state may offer other options to request and return ballots. Please contact your Absentee Election Manager for more information about delivery and return methods, including email, fax, and state online portals. To follow the FPCA process:
- Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), or download a copy. Your Absentee Election Manager may have questions, so please provide an email address or phone number where they can reach you.
- Send the application to your Absentee Election Manager.
- It is never too early to submit an FPCA! Please do so as soon as possible.
- Please fill out and send back your ballot as soon as you receive it.
- States begin mailing absentee ballots at least 45 days before Election Day. If you haven't received your ballot by 30 days before Election Day, contact your Absentee Election Manager.
If your ballot does not arrive after you submit your FPCA, contact your Absentee Election Manager first. Then:
- You can still vote using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Print, sign, and mail your FWAB to your Absentee Election Manager.
- If you mail a FWAB and then receive your regular absentee ballot, you should complete and mail your absentee ballot also. Election officials will ensure that only one ballot is counted.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program offers additional information on military and overseas voting in Alabama. You can also call 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or email vote@fvap.gov
How can I check my voter registration status?
You can look up your voter registration record and verify that your information is correct using Alabama's voter registration lookup tool.
How do I contact my state election office?
Which election office should I contact?
- In Alabama, the Board of Registrars and Absentee Election Manager run voter registration and elections in your area. The Board of Registrars can help you with questions about registering to vote, and the Absentee Election Manager can help you with questions about voting, including voting by mail.
- The Office of the Secretary of State oversees elections and election administration in Alabama. They can help you with questions about voting in your state, election security, or issues you might have at the polls. If you have concerns about voter intimidation, reach out immediately.
How do I contact my local election office?
Visit your state’s site to find the contact information for the Board of Registrars or the Absentee Election Manager.