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AARP AARP States Alabama Voters

How to Vote in Alabama's 2024 Elections

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Important dates and election information

Key dates

Note: The primary election has passed, and several races will now head to a runoff, including the Democratic and Republican races for U.S. House District 2. A runoff election is held for races in which no candidate receives the majority of the vote. Sample ballots for the primary runoff are available on the secretary of state’s website.

  • Primary: Tuesday, March 5
  • Primary runoff: Tuesday, April 16
  • General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5

Voting at a glance

  • Voter registration: The deadline to register for the primary runoff is Monday, April 1. Check the status of your application using the Registration Information portal.
  • Absentee voting: You can vote absentee only if you’re traveling on Election Day, can’t make it to the polls because of illness or meet other eligibility requirements.
  • Early in-person voting: Alabama does not allow early in-person voting. But if you apply for and receive an absentee ballot, you can hand-deliver it before the close of business on the day before Election Day.
  • Voting at the polls: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bring an approved form of ID, such as a valid Alabama driver’s license or U.S. passport.

Voting in Alabama

What to know about recent changes

A 2024 law bans another person from prefilling your absentee ballot application. The law also bars ballot collection for payment or gifts, and no longer allows unofficial handwritten requests for absentee ballots. Instead, you must complete an absentee ballot application form.

In 2023, federal judges chose a new U.S. congressional redistricting map that may alter some of the candidates that appear on your ballot during the 2024 elections. Find your current district at the secretary of state’s website.

Litigation is ongoing. 

Voter registration

Register online, by mail or in person. You may also register to vote while applying for or renewing your Alabama driver’s license online and in person. 

  • By mail: Download, print and complete a registration form, then mail it to your county board of registrars. Or request a form be mailed to you, either using the online form request or by calling the secretary of state’s office at 800-274-8683. 
    Completed registration applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1, for the primary runoff.
  • In person: Visit your county board of registrars to request, complete and submit a registration application by Monday, April 1. Or you can pick up an application while applying for Medicaid, SNAP, rehabilitation services or other assistance. Mail-in applications are available at other sites, including public schools, libraries and armed forces recruiting stations.

Check the status of your application using the Registration Information portal.

Registering to vote on Election Day

Alabama does not offer same-day registration.

Primary voting and party affiliation

Registered voters in Alabama do not have to declare party preference to cast a ballot in the primary. You’ll either choose which party’s ballot you will vote at the polls or select a party on your absentee ballot application.

In a primary runoff, you must vote the same ballot that you selected in the primary.

Alabama Senate Race

Ways to vote

Requesting an absentee ballot 

You can only vote absentee if you have an approved reason, such as planned travel on Election Day, illness or caregiving responsibilities. Call your local absentee election manager for more information.

If you are a voter with a permanent disability, your primary doctor must sign and notarize the application.

By mail: Download and print an application for an absentee ballot from the secretary of state’s website, or complete an online request form to have an absentee ballot application be mailed to you. You can also write your local absentee election manager to request an absentee ballot. Provide your name, address, the reason for your absence on Election Day, the election for which the ballot is requested, the address to send your absentee ballot, your party choice and your signature. All applications must include a copy of a valid photo ID, such as an Alabama driver’s license, U.S. passport or tribal ID.

In person: Go to your local absentee election manager to apply for an absentee ballot. You will need to provide the same personal information as listed above, including a copy of a valid photo ID.

Note that the primary runoff is the last election in which you can submit an unofficial, handwritten request for an absentee ballot. Starting with the Nov. 5 general election, you must complete an absentee ballot application form.

Your absentee election manager’s office must receive your mailed absentee ballot application by Tuesday, April 9, for the primary runoff. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in person is Thursday, April 11, for the primary runoff.

 

Completing an absentee ballot

Absentee ballots come with three envelopes: an unmarked one, one with an affidavit and a preaddressed mailing envelope. Carefully follow the ballot instructions.

  • Seal your completed ballot in the unmarked envelope. 
  • Put the unmarked envelope inside the affidavit envelope.
  • Seal the affidavit envelope before signing it. To be counted, your signature must be witnessed by two people 18 or older or by a notary public. Electronic or remote notarization is not allowed.
  • Place the affidavit envelope in the preaddressed envelope, and return it to your county’s absentee election manager. Prepaid postage is not provided.
How to vote absentee in Alabama

Returning your absentee ballot

You can return your absentee ballot by mail or in person.

  • By mail: Mailed absentee ballots must be received by your county’s absentee election manager’s office no later than noon on Election Day (Tuesday, April 16, for the primary runoff).
  • In person: Return your completed ballot to your absentee election manager’s office by 5 p.m. on the day before Election Day (Monday, April 15, for the primary runoff).

Track your ballot using the Alabama elections website. Or call your county’s absentee election manager to check the status of your ballot.

Voting in person before Election Day

Although the state doesn’t offer formal early voting, you can hand-deliver your completed absentee ballot to your election manager’s office by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 15, for the primary runoff election.

Voting at the polls on Election Day

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your polling place on the state elections website.

Voter ID requirements on Election Day

Bring a valid photo ID, such as a current Alabama driver’s license or U.S. passport.

If you don’t have one, you can request a free Voter ID at your county board of registrars. You can also obtain a state-issued photo ID via a free mobile unit, either by home visit or group event. Call the secretary of state’s office at 800-274-8683 or 334-242-7210 for more information.

Voting with a disability

Every polling place in Alabama offers accessible voting machines.

Voters who need assistance filling in their ballot can receive help from either an election official or someone they choose, as long as that person is not an employer or union official.

If you have a disability or are 70 or older, you can ask a poll worker to move to the front of the line at your polling place.

More information for voters with disabilities is available at the secretary of state’s website.

More information about candidates

Key 2024 races:

  • U.S. President
  • U.S. House: seven seats
  • State Supreme Court: five seats

Editor’s note: This guide was originally published on Jan. 8, 2023. It has been updated with new information about voting in the 2024 elections.

Elissa Chudwin covers federal and state policy and writes the podcast Today’s Tips from AARP. She previously worked as a digital producer for The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, California, and an editor for Advocate magazines in Dallas.

Also of Interest:

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