Alabama

Alabama does not have a statewide ballot curing process for absentee/mail ballots. If you voted a provisional ballot, the deadline to provide your valid ID to the Board of Registrars is 5pm on the Friday following the election. You can track the status of your ballot using your state’s online tool. 

For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets.

For information on state campaign contributions, please visit your state's resource.

Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures may be available here.

What is a ballot drop box? 

A drop box is a secure, locked structure operated by election officials where voters can deliver their absentee ballot any time, day or night. 

Are drop boxes available in my state? 

No, ballot drop boxes are not available in Alabama. You may hand-deliver your ballot to the Absentee Election Manager’s office in your county. You can look up the address of your county Absentee Election Manager office here. 

Early voting is not available.

Your next election date can be found here https://www.vote411.org/alabama

You can find more information about upcoming elections in Alabama HERE.

Polling places are open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

To be eligible to vote, you must be:

• A United States Citizen
• A resident in Alabama
• At least 18 years old
• Not convicted of a disqualifying felony (or have had your rights restored)*
• Not legally declared mentally incompetent by a court

Note: If you turn 18 years old after the registration deadline (14 days before an election), you can still vote in the upcoming election! Just be sure you submit your registration application before the 14 day deadline to ensure you're registered as you turn 18.

*The list of disqualifying felonies can be found here.

Do I need an ID to register to vote in Alabama? 

The ID you need to complete your registration varies depending on how you complete the registration process, either by mail or online.  

What types of ID are accepted for registration? 

To register to vote by mail you must provide one of the following:  

• Alabama driver’s license 
• Alabama non-driver’s ID number 
• Social Security number 

To register to vote online you need one of the following:  

• Alabama driver’s license 
• Alabama non-driver’s ID 

Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline 

When are official election results available in Alabama?    

Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count a large number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.   

Where can I find official election results?   

Official results will be released on the Alabama Secretary of State's website as they become available.    

You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.

If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.

You can make sure we have safe, fair, and efficient elections for all. Become a poll worker today!

In order to be a poll worker, you must:

• Be registered to vote in Alabama
• Be registered to vote in the precinct you want to work in
• Attend a mandatory poll working training
• Not be a member of a candidate's immediate family or the second degree of kinship
• Not be a member of a candidate's political committee

To sign up, contact your local board of elections.

Beginning in 2019, students may be eligible to work as unpaid poll worker interns on Election Day. You must be at least 16 years old at the time of the election, and be a junior or higher in High School. Click here for more information!

You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource.

Alabama is an “open primary” state. You can choose the party’s ballot you wish to vote. This decision does not register you with that party, and it is a private decision.

If no candidate receives a majority of the vote (50%+1) in a primary election, a runoff election will be held on the fourth Tuesday after the primary. The runoff election includes the two candidates who received the most votes to ensure that one receives a majority.

Crossover voting is not allowed in Alabama’s primary runoff elections. If you voted in a party’s primary, you must vote in the same party’s runoff. Voters who did not vote in the primary may choose either party’s runoff election.

If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.

What is a provisional ballot?   

Provisional ballots ensure that all voters can cast a ballot even if voter eligibility isn’t certain when they vote. Voters can mark a provisional ballot, and election workers set it aside until eligibility is verified at a later time.   

Does Alabama offer provisional voting?   

Yes, Alabama offers provisional voting.    

How do I vote a provisional ballot?    

You will vote by provisional ballot if you meet certain criteria. That criteria is:  

• Your name is not on the poll list
• You were issued an absentee ballot
• You are voting during a court ordered poll extension
• You are challenged by an inspector
• You do not have appropriate voter ID
• You are ineligible for the primary runoff election

How can I make sure my provisional ballot is counted?  

You will be given a receipt with information on how to verify the status of your provisional ballot.  If you have any questions, please contact your local elections office.

What voting assistance is available for voters with disabilities? 

You have several accessible voting options. 

Handicap-accessible voting machines are at every polling site in Alabama and are available whenever polls are open.  

If you are disabled or over the age of 70 you may move to the front of the line at the polling place, just ask a poll worker to move you. 

How do I request accommodation or report accessibility issues? 

You may request assistance at the polling place from anyone except your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your union. If you need help, you may ask a poll worker to assist you. 

Can I vote by mail because of my disability? 

Absentee voting starts 55 days before the election. Each county has at least one handicap accessible voting machine to assist voters with disabilities with absentee voting.  

If you meet the criteria to receive an absentee ballot by mail you may vote from home. If you are permanently disabled you may vote absentee on an on-going basis. You must apply to receive an absentee ballot for all county, state and federal elections, and have the application signed and notarized by your primary physician. There is a separate application for municipal elections. The application is good for all elections during the calendar year, or if the cycle spans multiple years the application is good for the entire election cycle.  

You must apply for an absentee ballot annually if you wish to receive a ballot.  

Voters who need assistance in completing or returning their absentee ballot due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may select any person to assist them, except their employer, an agent of their employer, or an officer or agent of their union. 

 For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource. 

What do I need to register to vote in Alabama? 

Here’s what you need to know to register in Alabama or update your voter registration information:  

You may submit an application online, download and mail a completed registration form, or request that a form be sent to your address. 

Can I register to vote using my college address in Alabama? 

Yes, if you consider your campus address your residence, you can register to vote there. If you move to a different dorm or off campus, be sure to update your voter registration with your new address so you can vote in the correct district. 

What’s the deadline to register to vote in Alabama? 

The deadline to register to vote in Alabama, whether online, by mail (postmarked), or in person, is 15 days before Election Day. Be sure to check the exact date each year. 

What form of ID do I need to vote in Alabama? 

You must present a photo ID when voting in person in Alabama. Accepted IDs include an Alabama driver’s license (physical or digital), U.S. passport, military or tribal ID, a student or employee ID from an Alabama college or university, or a government-issued ID from any state or the federal government. If you don’t have a valid photo ID, you may still vote if two poll workers confirm your identity. Free Alabama photo voter IDs are available through the Secretary of State or your county’s Board of Registrars. 

I’m originally from another state. Can I still vote in my home state while studying in Alabama? 

Yes, you can vote in your home state using an absentee ballot, but you'll need to follow your home state's rules and deadlines. You can find the rules for your state on VOTE411 or by contacting your state’s election office. 

Does registering to vote affect my financial aid, parents’ taxes, and/or tuition in Alabama? 

Registering to vote in your college community will not affect your Federal Financial Aid, status as a dependent on your parents’ taxes, or tuition status.  

Time off to vote is available for those whose work hours exceed polling place hours. If not, employers are not required to give time off to vote. Employees in Alabama may take up to one hour, but not if the polls are open two hours before their shift and open at least one hour after their shift. The employer is not required to pay wages for the time off. Whether this time is paid varies by town.

To verify your voter registration status,

Photo ID is required before voting.

Acceptable photo ID include:

• Alabama Driver's License
• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Digital Driver's License
• Alabama Non-Driver ID
• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Digital Non-Driver ID
• Alabama Photo Voter ID
• State Issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
• Federal Issued ID
• US Passport
• Employee ID from Federal Government, State of Alabama, County Government, Municipality, Board, Authority, or other entity of this state
• Student or employee ID from a college of university in the state of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
• Military ID
• 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)

If you do not have a valid photo ID you may vote only if you are identified by two election officials in the polling place as a voter on the poll list who is eligible to vote and the election officials execute an affidavit stating this. 

If you do not have a valid photo ID and the election officials are not able to identify you, you must cast a provisional ballot.

Free photo ID available!

If you do not have a photo ID, you can get a free Alabama photo voter ID from the Secretary of State or from your county Board of Registrars. Mobile unit locations that provide these photo IDs are available and you can check out the addresses here. You are able to get a new photo ID card each time you move within the state.  

If you are elderly or have a disability such that your polling place is not accessible, you are not required to produce identification when voting by absentee ballot.

Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline

Online registration deadline: 15 days before Election Day

Register by mail deadline: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day

In-person registration deadline: 15 days before Election Day 

Not registered? Use our online registration tool to complete your application! 

What types of voting machines does Alabama use? 

The voting system used in Alabama is Optical Scan. 

What is optical scan voting?  

With optical scan voting, you will receive a card or sheet of paper, which you take over to a private table or booth. The card has the names of the various candidates and ballot measures printed on it.   

• With a pen or pencil, you fill in a little box, circle, or space between two arrows.   
• When you are finished filling out all the cards, you may bring the cards over to a ballot box, where poll workers will show you how to put the cards in the box.   
• Or in some places, you may feed the completed cards or papers into a computer device that checks your card or paper right there at the polling place to make sure you have voted the way you want to and counts the votes.  

You can learn more about voting systems by checking out the Elections Assistance Commission's (EAC) resource.