Alabama Voting Guide

Am I eligible to vote in the state of Alabama?

To be eligible to vote in Alabama, you should meet certain qualifications:

• Be 18 years old on election day
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be a resident of the state of Alabama
• Present photo identification

The state of Alabama may prevent voters from exercising their right to vote if:

• They have been convicted of certain crimes or crimes involving moral turpitude
• A court has declared them mentally incompetent

Those who lost their voting rights due to the commission of a crime can apply to have their rights restored. To submit your application for restoration of voting rights, reach out to your county Probation and Parole office or the Board of Pardons and Paroles. You can contact them by phone, email, mail, or visiting the main office in person.

When is Alabama’s voter registration deadline?

Residents of Alabama should register to vote at least 14 days before election day. You can check the complete list of upcoming elections on the Alabama Secretary of State website.

How can I cast an absentee ballot in Alabama?

You are eligible to vote using an absentee ballot if you meet any of the following criteria, which are key to absentee voting:

• You expect to be away from the United States on election day
• You are ill or have a physical illness that prevents you from voting in person or accessing your assigned polling place
• You are a registered voter in Alabama but live outside the county. This may include U.S. citizens living abroad, members of the armed forces, their spouses or dependents, and students attending school outside their country of residence.
• You are a poll worker or an appointed election officer at a polling location outside your regular polling place.
• You expect to work a required shift with at least 10 hours covering the usual voting hours.
• You are a caregiver of a person or a family member confined to their home.
• You are in prison or jail and were not convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.

You can visit or write to your county’s Absentee Election Manager, usually the Circuit Clerk, to request an absentee ballot.

You will need to provide:

• Name and residential address
• Photo ID
• Which election you would like to vote in
• The reason why you can’t make it to the polls
• Party choice, if the election is a party primary
• Address where they should mail the absentee ballot
• Your signature

The office of the Absentee Election Manager must receive your absentee ballot application at least seven days before an election. If you hand deliver your application, the office must receive it at least five days before an election.

Can I bring a sample ballot to the polling place?

Yes. Alabama allows voters to take marked sample ballots when they cast their votes. These sample ballots should be exclusively for personal use. It should not disturb other voters in the polling place. The voter should also not leave the sample ballot at the polling place.

What do I need to bring to the polling location in Alabama?

You must bring a valid photo ID. Such approved forms include:

• Valid Alabama driver’s license, including Alabama law enforcement agency digital driver’s license
• Valid Alabama Non-Driver ID, including Alabama law enforcement agency digital non-driver ID
• Valid Military ID
• Valid U.S. Passport
• Valid Tribal ID
• Valid employee ID from the federal government, state, county, municipality, or any other state entity.
• Valid student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in Alabama or a college or university in another state
• Valid state-issued ID (photo required) (i.e., valid pistol permit, valid AL Movement)
• Valid federal-issued ID
• Alabama free Photo Voter ID card

Any voter who does not have a valid photo ID card can vote using a regular ballot. However, they should meet two conditions. First, their name should appear in the official voters’ list, and second, at least two election officials should positively identify them. If these conditions are not met, the voter can still vote using a provisional ballot.

How do I vote with a provisional ballot?

If you do not have a valid ID on the election day, you can vote using a provisional ballot. Voting with a provisional ballot follows the same rules as voting through a regular ballot. Before a voter receives the provisional ballot, they should first sign an affidavit. This affidavit attests to the voter’s eligibility to vote.

For your provisional ballot to be counted, the county Board of Registrars should be able to verify that you are a qualified voter of the polling location where you cast your vote.

What special accommodations are available?

Voters with disabilities should be able to access polling places in Alabama. Polling places in Alabama contain equipment to accommodate voters with disabilities so that they can vote without help. If your polling place does not accommodate your disability, you may contact your county’s probate judge.

Permanently disabled voters who cannot make it to the polls because of their disability can apply for a disabled voter absentee ballot. If approved, the voter is automatically mailed a disabled voter absentee ballot.

What do I do if I see something illegal at the polls?

Report complaints to the Alabama State Elections Office if you:

• Witness a crime such as voter fraud or intimidation
• Believe an election official broke the law or abused their discretion
• Suspect a campaign finance violation
• Experience a violation of the Help America Vote Act

There are four means you can file a report:

• File online through the Alabama Online Election Complaint Form
• Call the Alabama Secretary of State toll-free: 1-800-274-VOTE (8683)
• File your allegations via fax using fax number:  (334) 242-2444
• Mail your allegation to the Voter Fraud Unit of the Office of the Secretary of State using a printable form

You can also contact an attorney experienced in voting laws if you feel your voting rights have been violated.