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VOTING IN ALABAMA

Voter Eligibility - Who Can Vote?​

Under federal law, if you move within 30 days of a presidential election, you are allowed to vote for President and Vice President in your former state of residence, either in person or by absentee ballot. Voter registration is governed in Alabama by state law and the federal National Voter Registration Act (commonly known as "motor voter"). For information on the National Voter Registration Act and voter registration opportunities under the Act.
  • Minimum Age To Vote: You must be at least 18 years of age on or before election day
  • Minimum Age To Register To Vote: You must be at least 18 on or before Election Day to register.

To register to vote in the State of Alabama, an individual must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be a United States Citizen
  • Reside in Alabama
  • Be at least 18 years of age on or before election day
  • You cannot be barred from voting by reason of a disqualifying felony conviction.
  • You must not have been judged "mentally incompetent" in a court of law

Ways To Register To Vote​

By Mail​

You may download the State of Alabama Mail-In Voter Registration Form - then, just print it, fill it out, and mail it in to your local board of registrars. Any individual registering to vote must send the completed application with his/her original signature to the county's Board of Registrars in which he/she resides.

In Person​

You can hand-deliver your completed voter registration application to your county Board of Registrars office. Voter registration and updating of voter records is closed during the 15 days prior to each election in Alabama.

Online​

Alabama enables residents to register through their online voter registration portal. You may use the online application to submit an application for voter registration or to submit an update to your registration information. For any election, the last day to register to vote or update your voter registration is the 15th day prior to the election

Other ways to register to vote​

Ways To Vote​

Voters have the following 2 Options to vote:

Voting By Absentee Ballot​

Absentee ballot applications delivered by mail must be received in the office of the Absentee Election Manager for your county no later than 7 days prior to the election. Applications returned by hand must be received in the office of the Absentee Election Manager for your county no later than 5 days prior to the election. An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election and received by the Absentee Election Manager no later than noon on election day. If hand-delivered, the ballot must be in the office of the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business (but no later than 5 p.m.) on the day prior to the election.

Voting In Person at the Polls​

Beginning with the June 3, 2014 primary election, Act 2011-673 requires an Alabama voter to have a specific type of photo identification at the polls in order to vote. If a voter does not have one of the approved forms of photo ID as stated in the law, then he or she may receive a free Alabama photo voter ID from various locations including the Secretary of State's Office, local county board of registrars' offices, and a mobile location to be determined by the Secretary of State's Office.

Voter Identification​

  • Voter Identification Law Enacted? YES

Alabama requires voter to have a specific type of photo identification at the polls in order to vote​

  • Beginning with the June 3, 2014 primary election, Act 2011-673 requires an Alabama voter to have a specific type of photo identification at the polls in order to vote. If a voter does not have one of the approved forms of photo ID as stated in the law, then he or she may receive a free Alabama photo voter ID from various locations including the Secretary of State's Office, local county board of registrars' offices, and a mobile location to be determined by the Secretary of State's Office.

Valid ID at the Polls​

  • Valid Driver's License (not expired or has been expired less than 60 days)
  • Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Digital Driver's License
  • Valid Non-driver ID (not expired or has been expired less than 60 days)
  • Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Digital Non-driver ID
  • Valid Alabama Photo Voter ID
  • Valid State Issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
  • Valid Federal Issued ID
  • Valid US Passport
  • Valid Employee ID from Federal Government, State of Alabama, County Government, Municipality, Board, Authority, or other entity of this state
  • Valid student or employee ID from a college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
  • Valid Military ID
  • Valid Tribal ID

WHAT IF A VOTER DOES NOT HAVE A VALID PHOTO ID?​

  • A voter who does not have a valid photo ID in his or her possession at the polls shall be permitted to vote if the individual is positively identified by two election officials as a voter on the poll list who is eligible to vote and the election officials sign a sworn affidavit so stating.

Voter Information Lookup​

  • Voter Information Lookup Tool​

  • Use this tool to:​

    • Check Your Voter Registration Status
    • Check Your Polling Place Location
    • View Your Sample Ballot
    • Check Your Absentee Application and Ballot Status