Alabama Voter Guide

This guide is available in other languages: Español · 한국인 · Tiếng Việt

When you cast your ballot, you will contribute to the centuries-old struggle for justice and equality in the U.S. and push forward for representation and policy that reflects your needs and interests. Through the “Our Future, Our Vote” initiative, the Southern Poverty Law Center is committed to ensuring you can do so.

This voting guide for the state of Alabama includes information on how to manage changes to state law and provides resources for more help if you need it.

In this Guide

• Key Dates
• Before Election Day
• Election Day
• Voting If You Have Been Impacted by the Justice System
• Know Your Rights

Before Election Day

Who can register to vote?

Every U.S. citizen with the following qualifications is eligible to register to vote in Alabama:

• A resident of Alabama
• At least 18 years old (or will be 18 by the date of the next general election)
• Not declared mentally incompetent by a court
• Are not barred from voting because of a disenfranchising crime (see “Voting if You’ve Been Affected by the Justice System” below)

Where can I register to vote?

• Online
  • If you have an Alabama driver’s license on nondriver identification card, you may register online.
  • If you do not have an Alabama driver’s license on nondriver identification card, you must complete the fillable PDF.

• By mail
  • You may request a registration form be mailed to you at the Alabama Secretary of State website.
  • Mail-in forms also are available at probate judge and license commissioner offices, colleges, universities, public schools or libraries.
  • A mail-in registration form also may be obtained by calling your county Board of Registrars or the Elections Division in the Office of the Secretary of State at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683).

• In person
  • At Department of Motor Vehicle locations when applying for or renewing a state of Alabama driver’s license or nondriver identification card.
  • At state and local government offices when applying or recertifying for Aid to Dependent Children, SNAP, TANF, food stamps, WIC, Medicaid, or Rehabilitation Services.
  • At armed forces recruiting stations.
  • At the Board of Registrars at the county seat in your county of residency.

Can I vote early?

Alabama does not offer an early voting period. If you will be unable to vote in person on Election Day, you should request an absentee ballot. 

Can I vote absentee?

A voter may cast an absentee ballot if they:

• Expect to be absent from the county on Election Day
• Are ill or have a physical infirmity that prevents a trip to the polling place
• Are a registered Alabama voter living outside the county, including but not limited to, members of the armed forces or a spouse or dependent of such a person, or a U.S. citizen residing overseas or students at an educational institution located outside their county of residence
• Are an appointed election officer or poll watcher at a polling place other than their regular polling place
• Expect to work a required shift that has at least 10 hours that coincide with polling hours
• Are a caregiver for a family member to the second degree of kinship by affinity or by consanguinity (by blood) and the family member is confined to their own home.
• Are incarcerated in prison/jail and have not been convicted of a disenfranchising crime (see “Voting if You’ve Been Affected by the Justice System” below).

How do I vote by absentee ballot?

To vote by absentee ballot, first complete an absentee ballot application for your county of residence, which is available at the Alabama Secretary of State website.

Submit the absentee ballot application to your absentee election manager. You can find your absentee election manager here.

When your absentee ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the online instructions to complete it and return it. You must either mail your absentee ballot to the mailing address provided for your county or hand deliver your absentee ballot to the physical address provided for your county at the above link. Alabama does not provide drop boxes for absentee ballots.

Can I vote by mail?

Voting by absentee ballot (see above) is the only way to vote by mail. You may vote by absentee ballot if you meet one of the above criteria for casting an absentee ballot and follow the above procedure.

Election Day

When are polling places open?

Alabama polling places are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Please note that polling places in the Eastern time zone may be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Anyone standing in line when the polling place closes has the right to stay to vote.

Where do I vote?

You can check your polling place at Alabama’s voter portal page.

Polling locations can change so you may want to verify before leaving the house.

When should I use a provisional ballot?

You have the right to cast a provisional ballot if a poll worker tells you they cannot establish your eligibility to vote (e.g., your name does not appear on their voter registration list), but you believe you registered and are eligible to vote. The poll worker should offer you the opportunity to vote by provisional ballot, but, if they do not, you have a legal right to request one. The federal Help America Vote Act guarantees all voters the right to vote by provisional ballot. Before completing your provisional ballot, be sure to verify with the poll worker that you are in the correct polling place that corresponds to your home address, even if you are not listed in the poll book.

In Alabama, if you do not present an acceptable form of photo ID, you are entitled to cast a provisional ballot. To make sure it counts, you have until the Friday after the election to submit an acceptable form of photo ID to the board of registrars.

Voting If You Have Been Impacted by the Justice System

Can I vote from jail or prison?

People who have not been convicted of one of the offenses listed here are eligible to vote from prison or jail. They can do so by requesting an absentee ballot (see “How do I vote by absentee ballot?” above).

Can I vote if I am a returning citizen?

You may register to vote if you have not been convicted of an offense listed here.

For all listed offenses other than treason and impeachment, there is a procedure for the restoration of voting rights. Some offenses require a pardon for voting rights to be restored. Those offenses are listed in the red box here.

Other offenses do not require a pardon but require that you have no pending criminal charges; completed the full sentence, parole/probation, OR been pardoned; and paid all fines, fees and restitution ordered at the time of the sentence; and then you are required to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote. The offenses eligible for a CERV application after the above conditions have been met are in the yellow box here. The CERV application procedure is available here on Page 2.

In addition, pursuant to Section 208 of the federal Voting Rights Act, “Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union.” This federal law applies to all elections in all states and supersedes any state law. No proof of disability, illiteracy or limited English proficiency is required.

Can I assist other voters?

Yes, unless you are one of the following:

• Voter’s employer or agent of the employer
• Officer or agent of the voter’s union

Are voting materials available in languages other than English?

Alabama is not currently required by federal law to provide voting material in languages other than English. However, if you need assistance in voting because you have trouble reading or writing in English, you may receive assistance from a person of your choice. (See “What if I would like assistance to vote?” above.)

What if I witness or experience voter intimidation?

Voter intimidation is conduct intended to compel prospective voters to vote against their preferences, or to not vote at all, through activity that is reasonably calculated to instill fear.

Federal law expressly prohibits voter intimidation.

The following conduct near polling places is likely illegal voter intimidation:

• Violent behavior or verbal threats inside or outside the polling place.
• Confronting voters while wearing military-style or official-looking uniforms.
• Displaying firearms.
• Disrupting voting lines or blocking the entrance to the polling place.
• Following voters to, from or within the polling place.
• Spreading false information about voter fraud, Voting requirements, or related criminal penalties.
• Aggressively approaching voters’ vehicles or writing down voters’ license plate numbers.
• Harassing voters, including aggressively questioning them about their qualifications to vote. 

For further information on voting, visit the Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s Office.

Tell Us Your Voting Story

We want to hear what you experienced with registering, verifying or changing your information, absentee ballots, voting, or any other situation you’ve encountered while trying to participate in your local, state, or federal elections. Share your story:

Fill the Form

 

Illustrations by Elias Stein