Last update: Apr 23, 2025 04:30 a.m. EDT
Last update: Apr 22, 2025 04:30 a.m. EDT
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These guides are researched, written, and updated by Democracy Works, a non-partisan 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization. The information in these guides originates from official state sources and is reviewed by state election offices. The guides also link to authoritative state and local resources to provide additional information.
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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.
Registration Top Actions
Voting Top Actions
Can I register to vote online?
- Alabama offers online voter registration.
- To register online in Alabama, you need an 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.
How can I check the status of my mail ballot?
You can check the status of your ballot on Alabama’s website.
Can I submit voter registration forms by mail?
Use the National Voter Registration Form
- Print and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: If you have one, you must provide your Alabama driver's license number or Alabama non-driver's identification card number. If you do not have an Alabama driver's license or non-driver's identification card, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have not been issued any of these numbers you must indicate "NONE" and a unique identifier will be provided for you.
- 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: You are required to fill in this box; however, your application will not be rejected if you fail to do so.
- Review the "Who can register to vote?" section above and check that you're eligible.
- Sign the form.
- Send the completed form to your Board of Registrars.
- If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing this registration application, federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote. Proof of identification includes: current and valid photo identification or current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address. More information here.
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.
Can I submit voter registration forms in person?
- You can register to vote 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.
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.
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 U.S. and the State of Alabama and further disavow any belief or affiliation with any group which advocates the overthrow of the governments of the U.S. or the State of Alabama by unlawful means and that the information contained herein is true"
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
Alabama does not offer registration on Election Day.
Can I register to vote before I turn 18?
You can register to vote in Alabama before you turn 18 if you:
You must be at least 18 years old to vote.
If you have an earlier next election listed for your address here, you may only be eligible to register to vote now if you will turn 18 by that date. Contact your state election official to confirm.
- are 18 on or before Alabama's next election, which is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- are a United States citizen
- live in Alabama
- have not been convicted of a disqualifying felony (or have had rights restored)
- have not been legally declared "mentally incompetent" by a court
You must be at least 18 years old to vote.
If you have an earlier next election listed for your address here, you may only be eligible to register to vote now if you will turn 18 by that date. Contact your state election official to confirm.
Can I submit a voter registration application online before I turn 18?
Yes, you can register online on the Alabama Office of the Secretary of State website.
To register using the Alabama online voter registration system, you are required to provide ONE of the following valid ID numbers:
- Alabama Driver's License
- Alabama Non-Driver's Identification card
If you don’t have an Alabama-issued ID, you can still submit a voter registration application by mail or in person.
Can I submit a voter registration application by mail before I turn 18?
Yes, you can register to vote by mail using this form.
When submitting your application by mail in Alabama, you are required to provide your Alabama Driver’s License number or Alabama Non-Driver ID number. If you do not have one, you are required to provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have not been issued any of these numbers, check the box that indicates you do not have an ID number. You may send with your application a copy of your valid photo ID.
Can I complete a voter registration application in person before I turn 18?
Yes, you can learn more about registering to vote in person on the Alabama Office of the Secretary of State website.
You can complete a voter registration application in person at your local County Board of Registrars in Alabama.
You can also obtain a voter registration application in person at any of the following public agencies in Alabama:
- driver's licensing office
- county and select municipal public libraries
- public four-year universities and select private four-year universities
You can find a list of locations that provide voter registration services and voter registration application on the Alabama Secretary of State’s website.
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 early?
No, early voting in person before Election Day is not offered in this election. Alabama does offer absentee voting with an excuse in-person or by mail beginning 55 days prior to Election Day. Find the eligibility requirements for absentee voting and contact your Absentee Election Manager to check if you can visit their office to request and return an absentee ballot in person.
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
- digital driver's license or non-driver ID issued by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
- 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
- valid student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools) or valid student or employee ID issued by a state institution of higher learning in any other state
- digital student ID from a public or private college or university in Alabama or issued by a state institution of higher learning in any other state
- US military ID
- valid 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 can I check the status of my ballot?
You can check the status of your ballot on Alabama’s site.
Watch this video about voting in person from the Alabama Office of the Secretary of State.
Can I vote early?
No, Alabama does not offer early voting in person before Election Day. However, you may be eligible to vote an absentee ballot. Alabama does offer absentee voting with an excuse in-person or by mail beginning 55 days prior to Election Day. Find the eligibility requirements for absentee voting and contact your Absentee Election Manager to check if you can visit their office to request and return an absentee ballot in person.
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?
Request your mail-in ballot with a mail ballot application.
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.
- Find a ballot drop off location near you.
- 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.
How do I see what's on my ballot?
View your sample ballot on the Alabama Office of the Secretary of State's website. Available ballot information may vary depending on the upcoming election.
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
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.