How to vote in Alabama
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- Voter registration deadline (online): 15 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 15 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): 15 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): N/A
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Received by 1 day before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
Alabama voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 15 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 15 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 15 days before Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Alabama registration using the Alabama voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register to vote in Alabama you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Alabama and your county at the time of registration
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- not currently be declared mentally incompetent through a competency hearing
- swear or affirm to support and defend the Constitution of the US and the State of Alabama and further disavow any belief or affiliation with any group which advocates the overthrow of the governments of the US or the State of Alabama by unlawful means.
You can register to vote online if you have an Alabama driver license or nondriver ID card.
- Visit the Alabama online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 15 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Provide your Alabama driver’s license number or non-driver ID card number. If you do not have either of these numbers, provide the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have any of these numbers, write "NONE" in this space.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a party to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- 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.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 15 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Alabama driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Alabama address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Alabama does not automtically restore voting rights to anyone with a felony conviction. If you were convicted of crimes of "moral turpitude" such as murder, rape, incest, sexual crimes against children, or treason you will be permanently disenfranchised. For other felonies, you can apply for rights restoration after you've completed prison, parole, probation, and you've paid all fees and fines.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You cannot vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- court fees
- restitution fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Alabama absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the request deadline
- Receive your ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 5 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
You can vote by absentee ballot in Alabama if:
- you will 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 a registered Alabama voter who is temporarily living outside the county
- you are an appointed election officer or poll watcher at a polling place other than your regular polling place
- you work a required shift of 10 hours or more that coincides with polling hours
Alabama does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- Download the Alabama absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 5 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by 1 day before Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
You must include a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID with your absentee ballot application. Acceptable forms of ID include any photo ID issued by the State of Alabama or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, or a student or employee ID from any accredited American college or university. Additionally you must include your driver's license number OR the last four digits of your Social Security Number on the application.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected. Additionally, your voted ballot must be notarized or signed by two witnesses.
Track your ballot here: Alabama absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if it's missing a witness or notary signature.
- You will not be allowed to fix this issue. Your ballot will simply not be counted.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if:
- you have a medical emergency within five days of Election Day
- your work schedule changes within 5 days of the election and you will no longer be able to vote at the polls on Election Day.
- you are a caregiver of a person who requires emergency treatment by a licensed physician within five days before Election Day.
- you have a family who dies within 5 days before Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 1 day before Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is NOON on Election Day
Contact your local election office
Alabama early voting guide
- Early voting starts: N/A
- Early voting ends: N/A
You must show a non-expired photo ID at the polls. You can show any ID issued by the state of Alabama or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, a military ID, or a student ID from an accredited Alabama college or university. If you do not have a valid photo ID, you can still vote if two election officials vouch for you and if you sign an affidavit.
Alabama voter ID guide
You must show a non-expired photo ID at the polls. You can show any ID issued by the state of Alabama or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, a military ID, or a student ID from an accredited Alabama college or university. If you do not have a valid photo ID, you can still vote if two election officials vouch for you and if you sign an affidavit.
You must include a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID with your absentee ballot application. Acceptable forms of ID include any photo ID issued by the State of Alabama or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, or a student or employee ID from any accredited American college or university. Additionally you must include your driver's license number OR the last four digits of your Social Security Number on the application.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected. Additionally, your voted ballot must be notarized or signed by two witnesses.
You can register to vote online if you have an Alabama driver license or nondriver ID card.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Alabama elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Office of the Secretary of State P.O. Box 5616 Montgomery, AL 36103‐5616