How to Vote in Alabama’s Elections

Local elections were held across Alabama in August 2025, during which mayors and other officials in some cities — including Birmingham, Hoover, Madison and Mobile — were on the ballot. For some cities, including Mobile, a runoff election will take place Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Below are some key dates for the upcoming runoff. For additional details on Mobile's election, click here.

• Monday, Sept. 8: Deadline to register to vote or update registration.

• Tuesday, Sept. 16: Last day for an absentee ballot application that is returned by mail to be received.  
  
• Thursday, Sept. 18: Last day for an absentee ballot application that is returned by hand to be received. 
  
• Monday, Sept. 22: Last day to hand deliver an absentee ballot. If you are returning a ballot by mail, it must be received no later than noon on the day of the election.

• Voting absentee in person varies by municipality.  
• Tuesday, Sept. 23: Run-off election. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

A 2024 state law:

• Requires a voter to return their own absentee ballot application. No one else may return your application for you, unless you have a disability or require emergency medical treatment in the five days leading up to an election.

• Prohibits accepting or providing payment or gifts for managing another voter’s absentee ballot application, including collecting or delivering a form. In September, a federal court ruled that this does not apply to voters who have a disability, are blind or are illiterate. Litigation is ongoing.

• Bans providing a voter with an absentee ballot application that includes prefilled voter information, such as their name.

• Allows you to receive help filling out an absentee application, but you must sign the form, under penalty of perjury. You must also include the witness’ name and signature on the form.

• No longer permits unofficial handwritten requests for absentee ballots. Instead, you must complete an absentee ballot application.

Note that these changes do not apply to military or overseas voters.

Register online, by mail or in person. You may also register to vote while applying for or renewing your Alabama driver’s license online or in person.

• Online: Use the state’s voter registration portal to register or update your registration information. You will need your valid Alabama driver’s license or nondriver identification card; otherwise, you must complete a mail-in registration form. Registering online is available until 15 days before Election Day.

• By mail: Download, print and complete a registration form, then mail it to your county board of registrars. Or request a form be mailed to you, either using the online form request or by calling the secretary of state’s office at 800-274-8683. Completed registration applications must be postmarked no later than 15 days before Election Day.

• In person: Visit your county board of registrars to request, complete and submit a registration form no later than 15 days before Election Day. Or you can pick up an application while applying for Medicaid, SNAP, rehabilitation services or other assistance. Mail-in applications are also available at other sites, including public schools, libraries and armed forces recruiting stations.
  

Alabama does not offer same-day registration.

Check the status of your application using the Registration Information portal.

You can only vote absentee if you have an approved reason, such as planned travel, an illness or caregiving responsibilities, that keeps you from voting at the polls on Election Day. Call your local absentee election manager for more information. You can request an absentee ballot:

• By mail: Download, print and complete an absentee ballot application from the secretary of state’s website. Or complete an online request form to have an absentee ballot application mailed to you.

• In person: Go to your local absentee election manager to apply for an absentee ballot. Completed applications must include a copy of a valid photo ID, such as an Alabama driver’s license, U.S. passport or tribal ID.

The application must be returned in person no later than five days before Election Day or postmarked seven days before Election Day if requesting a ballot by mail. Include a copy of your valid photo ID.

If you are a voter with a permanent disability, you may apply to receive an absentee ballot for all elections within that calendar year. Your primary doctor must sign and notarize the application, and you must include a valid photo ID.

Emergency absentee ballot applications are available to voters who meet certain qualifications, such as a close family member’s death within five days of Election Day.

Military and overseas voters can find information about absentee voting at the secretary of state’s website.

Absentee ballots come with three envelopes: an unmarked one, one with an affidavit and a preaddressed mailing envelope. Carefully follow the ballot instructions.

• Seal your completed ballot in the unmarked envelope.

• Put the unmarked envelope inside the affidavit envelope.

• Seal the affidavit envelope before signing it. To be counted, your signature must be witnessed by two people age 18 or older or by a notary public, who must also sign the affidavit envelope. Electronic or remote notarization is not allowed.

• Place the affidavit envelope in the preaddressed envelope and return to your county’s absentee election manager. Prepaid postage is not provided.

Under a 2024 law, no one else may return your absentee ballot for you, unless you have a disability or require emergency medical treatment in the five days leading up to an election. Return your completed absentee ballot:

• By mail: Completed absentee ballots must be received by your county’s absentee election manager’s office no later than noon on Election Day.

• In person: Return your completed ballot to your absentee election manager’s office by 5 p.m. the day before Election Day.

Track your ballot using the Registration Information portal. Or call your county’s absentee election manager to check the status of your ballot.

Although the state doesn’t offer formal early voting, you can hand-deliver your completed absentee ballot to your election manager’s office by 5 p.m. the day before Election Day.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your polling place on the Registration Information portal.

You can find sample ballots and information about ballot measures at the secretary of state’s website.

Bring an approved form of photo ID — such as a valid Alabama driver’s license or valid U.S. passport — with you to the polls.

If you don’t already have one, you can request a free ID at your county board of registrars. You can also obtain a state-issued photo ID via a free mobile unit, either by home visit or group event. Call the secretary of state’s office at 800-274-8683 or 334-242-7210 for more information.

Every polling place in Alabama offers accessible voting machines.

Voters who need assistance filling in their ballot can receive help from either an election official or someone they choose, as long as that person is not an employer or union official.

If you have a disability or are 70 or older, you can ask a poll worker to move to the front of the line at your polling place.

More information for voters with disabilities is available at the secretary of state’s website.

 
Editor’s note: This guide was originally published on Jan. 8, 2023, and has been updated with new information about 2025 elections.  

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