Alabama

Land Acknowledgement

Alabama is home to The Poarch Band of Creeks, as well as eight state-recognized tribes: The Cher-O-Creek Intra Tribal Indians, the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama, the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama, the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama, the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation, the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, the Piqua Shawnee Tribe, and the United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation. It is also the traditional home of many tribes.

Overview

In Alabama, you can register to vote by mail, online, or in person. However, voting by mail is reserved for voters who are unable to vote in person. You are expected to vote in person. Under federal law, you can submit voter registration forms at all state and/or county offices that provide public assistance. In Alabama, public assistance offices, such as Medicaid, WIC, and DHR, must distribute voter registration forms, provide assistance in completing the forms if necessary, and accept such forms.

Key Dates

October 24 - Voter registration deadline.

November 1 - Deadline to request an absentee ballot.

November 8 - Election Day! Alabama does not have an early voting period.

Contacts

Alabama Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • Voter registration deadline is October 24 by mail, in person, and online. If you register to vote by mail, it must be postmarked by that date.

  • No.

  • To register to vote, you will need your Alabama driver's license or State ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. You do not need to provide photo ID at the time of registration. However, you will need to provide photo ID when voting, whether in person or absentee. You must also provide an address. You must provide both your residence and mailing addresses if they are different.

  • You must provide a residential address. You may not use a P.O. Box. However, if your home does not have a street number, you may draw a map of where your house is located, including any nearby roads and landmarks. If you provide a non-traditional address, you must provide a mailing address. Your mailing address may be a P.O. Box, rural box, or general delivery.

  • You can check if your address is valid by calling your local Board of Registrars. If you opt to draw a map of your home's location, check with your local Board of Registrars that your address has been accepted.

  • You can get a valid ID to register to vote from your local driver's license office. Alternatively, you can register with the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

  • Yes. You can register to vote online as long as you have an Alabama driver's license or State ID. You can register to vote online on this website. If you do not have a valid ID, you may register to vote by mail or in person.

  • No.

  • Yes. You can register to vote in person at your local Board of Registrars. You may also register to vote at public assistance offices such as Medicaid, WIC, and Department of Human Resources. These offices will provide assistance in completing the forms, if necessary.

  • Yes. You can pick up a form from your local Board of Registrars or a public assistance agency, complete it at home, and mail it to your Board of Registrars. You may also download the form online. Complete the form and mail it to your Board of Registrars. The address for each Board may be found on the application. You may also request to have the form mailed to you.

  • Yes. However, you cannot register to vote if you were convicted of a disqualifying felony and have not had your civil rights restored. View the list of disqualifying felonies.

    If you have had your civil rights restored, you may register to vote. Use this form to determine whether your civil rights are or may have been restored.

  • You can contact your local Board of Registrars with specific questions about registering to vote.

  • The voter registration deadline is October 24.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • You can check your voter registration online using Alabama's Registration Information tool.

  • You can call your local Board of Registrars, or the Alabama Secretary of State's office at (334) 242-7210.

  • You can update your voter registration the same way you register to vote — by completing another voter registration form with your updated information in person, by mail, or online.

    You will need to provide your Alabama driver's license or State ID. You can update your information here.

  • Maybe. Alabama, per state law, may only purge a person's voter registration if they died, moved out of their previous county of residence, or been convicted of a disqualifying felony.

    However, there are some reports that Alabama has been improperly purging. Check your voter registration online using Alabama's Registration Information tool or by calling your local Board of Registrars.

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • The deadline to request an absentee ballot is November 1. You can request an absentee ballot in Alabama if you have an appropriate reason.

    You can find appropriate reasons to request a mail-in ballot here.

    Additionally, you must have your ballot notarized or have two witnesses when you fill out your ballot. A witness must sign your ballot if you provide a mark instead of a signature.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • You can request an absentee ballot by writing or visiting the local Absentee Election Manager. Each county may have a slightly different absentee ballot application. Be sure to complete the correct one for your county.

    Find your county's application and Absentee Election Manager contact here.

    You must provide a copy of a qualifying voter ID with your absentee ballot application.

  • Yes. You must provide an appropriate reason to request a mail-in ballot. Examples of appropriate reasons for the state of Alabama include:

    • you expect to be absent from the county on Election Day

    • you are ill or have a physical disability that prevents a trip to the polling place

    • you are expected to work a required shift, ten hours or more, that coincides with polling hours.

    Find more appropriate reasons to request a mail-in ballot.

  • Yes.

  • The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is November 1.

  • Absentee Election Managers are required to send ballots no later than the next business day after the absentee ballot request form is received.

  • You can have an absentee ballot mailed to your residence or mailing address (may be a P.O. box), provided they are different and both provided. You can have your mail sent to a mailing address that is not on your voter registration so long as you specifically request it be sent to that mailing address and also provide the address that is on your registration.

  • This may vary by county as Alabama does not require absentee ballot return envelopes to be prepaid. Contact your absentee election manager for the most accurate information.

  • The deadline to request an absentee ballot is November 1. The last day to return absentee ballots by mail to the Absentee Election Manager is November 8 by noon.

    See all absentee dates and deadlines.

  • Yes. There are two ways to drop off your ballot. You may drop off your ballot in person by November 3. You can also hand your absentee ballot to the Elections Absentee Manager by November 7.

    You can find your local Election Absentee Manager's physical and mailing addresses to drop off or mail your ballot on this website.

  • No. You are the only person who can return your ballot by mail or hand delivery. If you are voting by emergency absentee ballot, you may have a designee to return your ballot.

  • Yes. You may send your ballot through USPS or by commercial carrier, such as FedEx and UPS.

  • Yes. You must sign your absentee ballot in the presences of two witnesses eighteen years of age or older OR you must have the ballot notarized. A witness must sign your ballot if you provide a mark instead of a signature.

  • Yes. Your ballot will not be counted if it is not witnessed or notarized, if it is lacking your signature, or if the information on the affidavit envelope indicates you are ineligible to vote absentee.

  • Yes. You can track your ballot online using Alabama's Registration Information tool.

  • You can contact your local Absentee Election Manager if you encounter any issues with your absentee ballot here.

Voting In-Person

  • You can find your polling place and hours online using Alabama's Registration Information tool. You may also contact your local Board of Registrars.

  • No.

  • You cannot vote early in Alabama.

  • Yes. You must provide an acceptable photo ID when you vote in person. Acceptable photo IDs include:

    • valid Alabama driver's license or non-driver ID (both may be expired up to 60 days)

    • a valid tribal ID

    • valid 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 (ex: AL Department of Corrections - Temporary ID, AL Movement/Booking Sheet from Prison/Jail System, or a pistol permit)

    • federally-issued ID

    • U.S. 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 issued by a public or private college or university in Alabama

    • U.S. military ID

  • There are many ways to get an ID that will allow you to vote. You can contact your local driver's license office to acquire a driver's license or a non-driving State ID.

    You may also get a free Alabama photo voter ID card from the Secretary of State office, you local Board of Registrar's office, or any mobile locations established by the Secretary of State.

    Find more information on how to get a free voter ID.

  • Yes. You may cast a provisional ballot if one of the following applies: your name is not on the voter list; your name was marked off the voter list because you applied for an absentee ballot; you object to the political party identified on the list of registered voters for the primary runoff election; you did not provide photo identification as required by law, and cannot be identified by two election officials; your right to vote is being challenged by an inspector. Provisional ballots will be counted on November 15.

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • If you have questions about voting in person, contact your local Board of Registrars or the Secretary of State's office.