Voting safely and securely in 2020

The coronavirus pandemic is threatening the health and financial security of all Alabamians but especially those age 50+. With so much going on, it’s hard to believe that it’s also an election year. And this season promises to be unlike any other. AARP Alabama encourages voters to request an absentee ballot for one, or all, 2020 elections, including the upcoming August 25^th municipal elections happening in most cities in Alabama.
The coronavirus pandemic is threatening the health and financial security of all Alabamians but especially those age 50+. With so much going on, it’s hard to believe that it’s also an election year. And this season promises to be unlike any other. AARP Alabama encourages voters to request an absentee ballot for one, or all, 2020 elections, including the upcoming August 25^th municipal elections happening in most cities in Alabama.

Here, you can watch a video from the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office demonstrating the Absentee Ballot Application Process: Alabama Absentee Ballot Application Process

To request an absentee ballot, visit AlabamaVotes.gov or call the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office at (334) 242-7210. You may also contact your county board of registrars.

There are different absentee ballot applications for municipal elections, state elections, and other situations. You can find all of them on the AlabamaVotes.gov website.

All voters in Alabama are required to have a valid (not expired) photo ID in order to vote. Accepted photo IDs include:

• Valid Alabama Driver’s License
• Valid Alabama Non-driver ID
• Valid Alabama Photo Voter ID Card
• Valid State-Issued ID
• Valid Federal-Issued ID
• Valid student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in Alabama
• Valid Tribal ID
• For a complete list, click here.

Absentee ballot applications must be received in the office of the Absentee Election Manager for your county no later than the 5th day prior to the election, for example, all general municipal absentee ballot applications for the August 25^th elections must be received by the city clerk by Tuesday, August 18th at 5 p.m. with a copy of your valid photo identification.

Absentee Voting - Ballot Procedure

The absentee ballot comes with three envelopes -- one plain (the secrecy envelope), one with an affidavit, or sworn statement, printed on the outside, and one plain envelope, pre-addressed (the outer envelope). Once the voter casts the ballot, the procedure is as follows:

• Seal the ballot in the plain envelope
• Place the plain envelope inside the accompanying affidavit envelope
• Seal the affidavit envelope and complete the affidavit that is on the outside of the envelope
• Sign the affidavit and have the signature witnessed by either a notary public or two witnesses 18 years of age or older