Your election office, dates and voting questions
Alabama Board of Elections: Office, Contacts & Voting Guide
Looking for the Alabama election office? Start here: find the statewide Elections Division, your county registrars, the November 2026 deadlines and the official services you need.
Independent publisher notice: Board-of-Elections.org is a nonpartisan information website, not an Alabama government agency. It cannot register voters, provide official ballots or decide election disputes.
Which Alabama election office do you need?
The best contact depends on what went wrong—or what you need to do next.
Alabama’s Secretary of State is the chief elections official, and the Elections Division publishes statewide voting information, election procedures, statewide election resources and voter ID guidance. It is not the same as your county Board of Registrars.
Local authorities also have different roles. Registration problems belong with registrars; absentee voting usually starts with your county’s Absentee Election Manager; and precinct or local election administration questions may require county officials. For a municipal election, the city clerk may be the more useful first call.
Statewide rules, official publications, election-related contacts, photo-ID guidance and election information.
New registration, address and name updates, the voter record and questions about whether you are registered.
Absentee ballot requests, your county’s return address, application status and emergency absentee questions.
Precinct operation, local poll administration and municipal ballots. Your assigned polling place is not necessarily your nearest public building.
Missing from the voter list? Contact your county registrars. Absentee ballot has not arrived? Contact the county manager. Need statewide election instructions? Start with the Elections Division.
Alabama Elections Division address, phone and email
The statewide office is located in Montgomery. County registration and absentee mailings normally go elsewhere.
- Elections Division telephone
- 334-242-7210
- Toll-free voter information
- 1-800-274-8683
- Fax
- 334-242-2444
- Military and overseas voter questions
- alavoter@vote.alabama.gov
- Physical address
- 600 Dexter Avenue, Suite E-206, Montgomery, AL 36130
- Mailing address
- Elections Division, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103-5616
- Current official contact page
- Elections Division contacts
The Elections Division contact page lists Suite E-206. Other pages for the Secretary of State identify a different internal suite, and the agency’s general telephone line is different from its Elections Division telephone. Use 334-242-7210 for statewide election inquiries and call before visiting to confirm directions.
An absentee ballot goes to the correct county Absentee Election Manager, following that county’s address and delivery instructions. Paper voter registration is generally handled by the appropriate county Board of Registrars.
Alabama 2026 general election deadlines
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, is Election Day. Registration closes before then—and absentee applications and ballot returns have different deadlines.
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Last day to register for the general election
Electronic registration must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline; hand-delivered applications are subject to office closing times, and mailed forms must meet the applicable postmark requirement.
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Ordinary absentee application by mail
The county Absentee Election Manager must receive the application by this date—not merely see an Election Day postmark.
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Ordinary absentee application in person
The last regular day for an in-person application through your county manager. Confirm office hours ahead of time.
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Hand-delivered absentee ballot
The ballot must arrive by close of business, no later than 5 p.m., with the correct county manager.
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General Election Day
Polls are normally open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. local time. Most mailed absentee ballots must be received by noon.
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Follow-up for certain photo-ID provisional ballots
Where the missing-photo-ID procedure applies, qualifying voters generally must present accepted ID to the county Board of Registrars by 5 p.m.
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Possible UOCAVA receipt deadline
Eligible military and overseas mailed ballots with the required timely dispatch may be received by noon on the seventh day after Election Day. Separate electronic-return rules also apply.
The dates are drawn from the 2026 Alabama Voter Guide and the Secretary of State’s general election absentee deadline notice.
For ordinary domestic absentee voters, a ballot mailed on November 3 will usually arrive too late. A postmark is not a substitute for the noon Election Day receipt deadline.
How to register to vote in Alabama
Begin with your record, not a blank form. You may already be registered, but an old address can point to the wrong precinct.
Who is eligible?
Generally, you must be a U.S. citizen, reside in Alabama, be at least 18 by Election Day, and not be disqualified because of a covered felony conviction or an applicable court determination of mental incompetence. Some people may qualify after voting rights are restored.
Alabama registration closes for the fourteen days before an election. It does not offer same-day voter registration at the polls. A voter who turns 18 by Election Day can register in advance when all other qualifications are met.
Four steps to get your record right
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Look yourself up.
Use My Voting Information and check your voter status, name, residence and assigned precinct. If your record is unavailable, contact your county.
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Pick a registration method.
The official registration page offers electronic registration, a printable application and instructions for receiving a form by mail. Qualifying Alabama driver’s license or nondriver-ID information is generally needed for electronic registration.
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Send a complete application on time.
For paper registration, follow the signature and delivery instructions and use your county’s current registrar contact details. Meet the October 19 deadline for the November election.
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Confirm the outcome.
Submitting a form is not proof that you are on the voter rolls. Check for the acknowledgement postcard or ask county registrars whether your record is active.
Moved or changed your name?
An in-county move may change your precinct. A move into a new county requires updating the registration county. Alabama’s official guide describes limited provisional procedures for certain moves close to an election; these procedures do not excuse every missed registration update.
If you are a student, live in more than one place, or changed your surname, use your actual legal voting residence and current personal details. Do not assume a license address alone determines your registration or allows voting twice.
What about a felony conviction?
The effect depends on the conviction and applicable law; not every felony has the same consequence. Alabama’s Bureau of Pardons and Paroles administers a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote process for some eligible people. Ask the responsible agency and county Board of Registrars to confirm the steps in your case.
A voter registration acknowledgement card tells you about your registration and precinct; it is not an accepted photo ID merely because it came from election officials.
Where to vote and what happens on Election Day
Find the assigned polling place using your registered address. Don’t rely on the school or community center used in a previous election.
Use Alabama’s voter lookup shortly before November 3. Polls are normally open 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time. Alabama includes locations that observe Eastern rather than Central Time; the precinct’s local clock controls.
- Confirm your actual precinct address.
- Bring an accepted photo ID.
- Review your county’s sample ballot.
- Arrive before 7 p.m. local time.
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Check in at your assigned site.
Tell a poll worker your name and show approved identification. They check the list for your registration.
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Ask about discrepancies right away.
If your record is marked inactive, you may need a voter update form. If your name isn’t found, ask officials to contact the county Board of Registrars before leaving.
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Mark your ballot privately.
Follow the instructions for your polling-place equipment. If you require assistance or an accessible ballot device, ask poll workers.
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Submit it using the approved procedure.
Ballot scanners and local procedures can vary. If you spoil a paper ballot before casting it, ask a poll worker for a replacement.
Can I bring notes?
The official state guide permits a marked sample ballot for your own use, as long as the material is not disruptive and you take it with you. Avoid leaving political materials behind inside the polling location.
Why a provisional ballot might be offered
If an eligibility, precinct, absentee-status or photo-ID problem remains unresolved at check-in, poll workers may offer a provisional ballot for review. Ask why and obtain instructions for any action needed after Election Day.
Alabama photo voter ID requirements
Most in-person voters must show an accepted photo ID. A registration card, utility bill or random membership card is not an automatic substitute.
The Alabama Secretary of State’s official valid-ID list includes the categories below. Always check the document’s validity and the exact list.
| Document | What to check |
|---|---|
| Alabama driver’s license or nondriver ID | Valid, or expired for fewer than 60 days under Alabama’s stated rule. |
| Alabama Photo Voter ID | The special card issued through the state program for qualifying registered voters. |
| U.S. passport or federal photo ID | Must satisfy the current approved-ID requirements. |
| State photo ID | Qualifying Alabama or other state-issued IDs, including particular correctional photo documents. |
| Student or employee photo ID | Certain Alabama college/university or qualifying public-university photo IDs, and designated government employee IDs. |
| Military or tribal photo ID | Use an ID that fits the state-published accepted categories. |
No qualifying ID? You may get a free one
Alabama provides a free Photo Voter ID for registered voters who do not possess an accepted photo ID. The official free-ID application page lists identity documents and county/state issuance routes, including mobile assistance options. This is not a paid expedited voter-registration service.
Arrived at the polls without photo ID?
Alabama describes a sworn positive-identification procedure if two election officials can properly identify you as an eligible voter on the list. Otherwise, an eligible voter may cast a provisional ballot and follow the post-election photo-ID submission requirements.
For November 3, 2026, the ordinary missing-ID provisional-ballot follow-up deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, November 6 for voters to whom that procedure applies. Other types of provisional ballot are reviewed under different rules.
Alabama absentee voting: the complete process
Alabama does not have universal no-excuse absentee voting. Standard voters must qualify under a reason recognized by state law.
Reasons include being outside your county on Election Day, qualifying illness or disability, certain long work shifts, election-officer assignments, certain caregivers and other situations set out in the official absentee voting rules.
Apply through your county
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Select the correct county’s form.
Get the application from the Secretary of State’s county-specific directory.
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Complete the original application.
Include the election, voter information, truthful qualifying reason, an original signature and normally a copy of acceptable photo ID unless exempt.
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Meet the receipt deadline.
For the November general election, the ordinary mailed application must be received by October 27; an ordinary in-person application is due October 29.
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Use the instructions with your issued ballot.
Alabama normally provides a secrecy envelope, affidavit envelope and pre-addressed outer envelope. Read each before sealing.
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Complete the affidavit correctly.
Typically, the affidavit must be notarized or witnessed by two adults at least 18 years old. Alabama’s standard procedure does not accept remote or electronic notarization for the absentee affidavit.
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Return by an approved method.
Ordinary voters may mail the ballot, use an allowed commercial carrier, or personally hand-deliver their own ballot to the county Absentee Election Manager. Exceptions are limited and need specific instructions.
Returned in person
Most ordinary voters must personally deliver the ballot by close of business, no later than 5 p.m. November 2.
Returned by mail
Most ordinary ballots must reach the county manager by noon November 3. Plan delivery ahead of time; postal transit is not instantaneous.
Is there early in-person voting?
Alabama does not offer general no-excuse early voting. A voter who meets the absentee eligibility rules may be able to vote in person through the county Absentee Election Manager before Election Day. These are absentee procedures, not a separate universal early-voting period.
Do not assume a neighbor, relative or volunteer can take an ordinary absentee ballot to an election office for you. Alabama’s permitted return methods and narrow emergency exceptions are defined by law.
Emergency absentee ballots and last-minute situations
A late ordinary application is not automatically accepted merely because Election Day is near. Alabama recognizes specific emergency absentee circumstances with separate procedures, including qualifying medical events and certain last-minute employment or family situations.
For some emergency categories, applications can be made after the regular deadline but must be completed by 5 p.m. on the day before Election Day. A distinct medical-emergency procedure may apply when medical treatment is required within the last five days before the election.
In a qualifying medical emergency, the state describes physician certification and a designated person who may assist with the application and ballot under the applicable emergency rules. The medical-emergency application and ballot can have a noon Election Day deadline.
If you are hospitalized just before November 3, ask your county Absentee Election Manager about the medical-emergency form. Do not treat the ordinary affidavit or third-party return rules as interchangeable with the emergency procedure.
Review the state absentee resource page for current emergency forms, eligibility and instructions before taking action.
Provisional ballots and what happens next
A provisional ballot allows election officials to preserve a voter’s ballot for later eligibility review. It is not automatically counted, and the follow-up depends on the reason it was issued.
| Problem | What voters should do |
|---|---|
| Name is missing from the precinct list | Ask officials to contact the county registrars and verify the correct precinct before deciding how to proceed. |
| Previously requested an absentee ballot | Explain whether the absentee ballot was received, used or returned; officials check whether a ballot was already cast. |
| Required photo ID was unavailable | Follow the official missing-photo-ID provisional process and any Friday documentation deadline. |
| Recent address or registration discrepancy | Provide accurate current details and ask how the Board of Registrars will determine eligibility. |
Alabama’s Election Day process can require an affidavit and a voter-update form, with the provisional ballot kept separately for review. Voting at an incorrect precinct or not being registered may have a different outcome from a missing-ID issue.
- Ask why the ballot is provisional.
- Confirm the county office handling review.
- Write down any document deadline.
- Ask how to check the outcome later.
Help for voters with disabilities and older voters
Alabama provides accessible equipment at polling places. Voters who need assistance may request help from a person of their choice, subject to restrictions involving employers and unions, or ask for assistance from an election worker.
The Secretary of State’s 2026 guide describes assistance in line management for voters with disabilities and voters over age 70. Those with a qualifying permanent disability may have access to annual absentee-ballot application procedures, with additional certification requirements.
Not every person with a disability uses the same form or exception. If you need accessible ballot delivery, transportation-related planning, or an accommodation at the polls, contact your county officials and consult the official disability assistance page before Election Day.
Ask the county office which accessible voting equipment is assigned to your precinct, what help poll workers can provide and whether an absentee procedure fits your circumstances. Do not assume you must give up a private ballot to receive assistance.
UOCAVA: FPCA, overseas ballots and special return deadlines
Some service members, their eligible family members and U.S. citizens living abroad can use protections under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). The county of your voting residence remains important even when you are stationed or living elsewhere.
Start with the FPCA
The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) can help eligible voters register and request an absentee ballot. The Federal Voting Assistance Program provides federal forms and instructions; the Alabama Secretary of State provides county-specific rules.
Blank-ballot delivery and voted-ballot return are different
Some eligible voters may receive a blank ballot electronically. Electronic return of a completed ballot is subject to stricter location and eligibility conditions, so a service member living in another U.S. state should not assume overseas electronic return applies.
Alabama’s published military and overseas guidance gives an 11:59 p.m. Election Day deadline for eligible electronic returns. Certain mailed UOCAVA ballots postmarked by Election Day can arrive by noon on the seventh day afterward, which is November 10 in the 2026 general election.
Backup federal write-in ballot
The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) may be available when an eligible voter requested an ordinary absentee ballot but it did not arrive in time. Its use, deadline and eligible offices are governed by the applicable federal and Alabama rules. The Alabama and FVAP instructions should be read together.
Sample ballots, election types and results
Sample ballots are published for the November 3, 2026 general election by county. Select the appropriate county from the Secretary of State’s sample-ballot directory, rather than relying on an old image shared online.
Federal, statewide, district and county races vary depending on the voter’s address. The 2026 election includes a U.S. Senate contest, congressional seats, statewide constitutional offices and other district or local offices. Certain county ballots also contain proposed constitutional amendments or local questions.
| Election | How it works |
|---|---|
| Primary | Voters select a participating party’s primary ballot; Alabama does not require registering by party to join a primary. |
| Primary runoff | Alabama’s primary runoff crossover rule can limit switching party runoff ballots after voting in another party’s initial primary. |
| General election | Voters choose among the candidates listed for their offices and may consider ballot questions or amendments. |
| Municipal or special election | Different offices, administrators or dates may apply; check the relevant local election notice. |
Where do the official results appear?
The Secretary of State’s 2026 election information and election data pages are the appropriate sources for published returns and election records. Unofficial election-night figures are not the same as final certified results.
Alabama Elections Division location and map
The Elections Division is in the State Capitol complex in Montgomery. This is an office-location map, not a map of every Alabama polling place.
Your polling place is assigned based on your voter registration. Find it here. Absentee ballots and paper registration forms generally require the correct county office rather than the Montgomery state headquarters.
Alabama Board of Elections FAQs
Does Alabama have a statewide office named “Board of Elections”?
No single statewide agency uses that exact formal name. The Alabama Secretary of State’s Elections Division provides state-level guidance, while county Boards of Registrars handle registration.
What is the Alabama Elections Division telephone number?
Call 334-242-7210 or the toll-free voter line 1-800-274-8683. Registration and absentee questions may be better directed to the county office.
When is the 2026 general-election registration deadline?
Monday, October 19, 2026. Complete the appropriate electronic, mail or in-person submission before its deadline.
Can I register to vote at the polls on November 3?
No. Alabama does not allow same-day registration for the general election.
How do I find my polling place?
Use the state’s My Voting Information service and confirm it shortly before Election Day.
Can I vote without my registration postcard?
Yes. The acknowledgement card is not required at check-in, but an accepted photo ID is generally required.
Can I use an Alabama driver’s license that recently expired?
The official list allows an Alabama driver’s license or nondriver ID that expired fewer than 60 days ago. Other ID categories have different validity conditions.
Does Alabama have early voting for everyone?
No general no-excuse early-voting period exists. Eligible absentee voters may vote in person using absentee procedures.
Can a family member return my ordinary absentee ballot?
Do not assume so. Alabama restricts ordinary absentee ballot return methods, with narrow exceptions including specific medical-emergency procedures. Ask the county manager.
What if I forget photo ID on Election Day?
Ask poll workers about Alabama’s positive-identification affidavit procedure or provisional voting, and get instructions for any necessary post-election ID submission.
What time do Alabama polls close?
Polling places generally close at 7 p.m. local time. Arrive before closing, and check the time zone of your assigned precinct.
Can overseas voters use different absentee deadlines?
Yes, qualifying UOCAVA voters have special ballot delivery and return provisions. Review the Secretary of State’s military and overseas page and the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
Official election sources and useful next steps
Use these authoritative sources to confirm deadlines, voter eligibility, county contacts and individual circumstances. The Elections Division’s official guidance controls over any independent explanation on this page.
- 2026 Alabama Voter Guide (PDF) — principal election calendar, eligibility, voter ID, poll procedures and absentee information.
- Elections Division contacts — statewide numbers, building and mailing addresses.
- County registrars directory — official county registration contacts.
- Registration and updates — approved ways to submit or change registration.
- Accepted voter photo ID and free ID instructions.
- Absentee rules and county absentee applications.
- Military/overseas rules and Federal Voting Assistance Program.
- 2026 county sample ballots and 2026 election information.
For official state agency announcements, the Alabama Secretary of State’s Facebook page is named in an official Secretary of State newsroom release. That account belongs to the government agency, not to Board-of-Elections.org, and important procedures should always be checked against written government guidance.