Alabama

How to Vote in Alabama

If you or someone you know is trying to register to vote or vote and is having trouble, has a question, or needs help, you can call Alabama's voter protection hotline, which is covered 24/7. Please only call if you cannot find the answer to your questions here or need help, but please DO have the number saved in your phone--you may need it at any time! The number is 833-468-6832.

 

Voting & Registering

  • Do I Need an ID to Vote? Yes, in general. In Alabama, voters who don’t show a photo ID to a poll worker are usually asked to vote with a provisional ballot. and then they have to bring the required ID to an election office by 5 p.m. on the Friday after Election Day. However, voters without a photo ID who don’t want to vote provisionally or want to make sure their votes count have another option: If two election officials sign sworn statements saying they know the voter, there is no need to provide a photo ID. Election officials are the people who work the polls. 
  • Can I Get a Free ID, so I Can Vote? Yes! Here's how to get a Free Alabama Voting ID Card.
  • What Kind of ID Will Be Accepted to Vote? List of Accepted IDs to Vote in Alabama. Confused? Send us an email, or check out this Alabama Voter ID Guide. 
  • How Do I Register to Vote? No problem! Visit this page to register online: Register To Vote Online in Alabama. Important: If you plan to register online, you MUST register before the 15th day before the Election (October 19), so please register as soon as possible! You will need a driver's license or valid Alabama accepted form of ID to register online. If you cannot do this, you can register by mail. To do that, print out this form: Register To Vote By Mail in Alabama, and make sure it is RETURNED to your local board of registrars no later than 14 days before the Election (October 19). Find Your Local Board of Registrar's Contact Info & Address. Once your application is processed, you will get a voter registration card. 
  • If I Signed Up to Register to Vote, Can I Vote? This is a little tricky---just because you filled out a form doesn't mean you're registered. You will need your local board or registrars (link above) to tell you that they processed your application, and that you're good to go. You can call them to check the status, and you will get a voter registration card when your application is successfully processed, so once you get that card, you're registered to vote!
  • Can I Register to Vote in Person? Yes! Here are the places that you can go that will register you (you should bring one of the IDs discussed above): a driver's licensing office, some county & municipal public libraries (check with yours before going!), a Department of Human Resources (DHS) office, a Medicaid agency, at the Department of Public Health WIC Program offices, and at a Department of Rehabilitation Services agency office.
  • Does Alabama Have Same-Day Voter Registration? No, so make sure you've done it by the 19th!
  • What Is The Deadline to Register to Vote in the Upcoming Election? October 19, 2020 (whether you're registering online, by mail, or in person, your application must be RECEIVED by this date).
  • Am I Registered to Vote & Where is My Polling Place? Visit this page: Check Alabama Voter Registration & Find Polling Locations.
  • Who Is Eligible to Register & Vote in Alabama? To be allowed to register and vote in Alabama, you must be a US Citizen, an Alabama Resident, 18 years-old or older, not have been convicted of a disqualifying felony (or have had your rights restored), and not have been legally declared "mentally incompetent" by a court
  • If I've Been Convicted of a Crime/Felony, Can I Still Vote? Generally, if it's not a felony, YES. If it's a felony, you STILL may be able to, depending on the crime and on whether you've had your voting rights restored. For help with this, visit Help Restoring Voting Rights & For Those Convicted of a Felony.

Absentee (Vote By Mail) Voting:

  • What if I Want to Vote By Mail/Absentee? Visit this website to Fill Out An Absentee Ballot Request, and make sure you return that request by NO LATER than the 5th day before the Election--so by October 29. 
  • What is the Deadline to Return an Absentee Ballot? If you're mailing it, it must be postmarked NO LATER than November 2. If you're turning it in at a drop box/in person, you must turn it in by NOON on November 3 (Election Day).
  • Can Anyone Vote Absentee/By Mail? No, but many people can! Here are the rules: You can vote by mail if you meet ANY of these conditions:
    • You will be absent from the county on Election Day, or
    • You are ill or have a physical disability that prevents a trip to the polling place (including a concern about contracting or spreading COVID-19. This means nearly anyone can vote absentee), or
    • You are a registered Alabama voter who is temporarily living outside the county (such as a member of the armed forces, a voter employed outside of the United States, a college student, or a spouse or child of such a person), or
    • You are an appointed election officer or poll watcher at a polling place other than your regular polling place, or
    • You work a required shift - 10 hours or more - that coincides with polling hours, or
    • You are a caregiver for a family member who is confined to the home, or
    • You are incarcerated but otherwise eligible to vote.
  • How Do I Request an Absentee Ballot?  You can use the link above, or you can use this handy tool online, and it should take about 2 minutes! Vote Absentee Tool here.

Other Questions About Voting:

 

  • I'm Disabled--What Help Is Available for Me, so I Can Vote? Lots! Here are Alabama's Resources for Disabled Voters.
  • Can a Candidate for Office Help Me Fill Out My Ballot? Yes, but only if you ask the candidate to help you. The only people who cannot assist a voter are the voter’s employer, an agent of the voter’s employer, or an officer or agent of the voter’s union.
  • Can I Take A Sample Ballot to the Polls? YES! Just be sure to take it with you when you're done voting (don't leave it at the polling place).
  • Am I Allowed to Take Pictures in Polling Places? Generally, no. However, voters are permitted to take a picture of or with their ballot, as long as they do not disclose the content of any other voter's ballot or disrupt the voting process. 
  • What if I Made a Mistake When I Marked My Ballot? If you have not already placed your ballot in the electronic voting machine or ballot box, you may ask a poll worker for another ballot. The poll worker will spoil your first ballot so that it cannot be counted or reused.
  • Can I Vote if I'm Almost 18? Yes. As long as you turn 18 on or before election day, even if your birthday is after the voter registration deadline, you can apply for voter registration and participate in that election (as long as you meet other voter qualifications). ***Please note that you must turn your voter registration application in before the 14-day close for voter registration. In other words, apply BEFORE you turn 18 IF your 18th birthday will take place AFTER October 19th but BY November 3!
  • What if I Have a Question that Isn't Answered Here? We do our best, but remember that you can always call the voter protection hotline for assistance. You can also call the Alabama Elections Division at 1-800-274-8683 or 334-242-7210 as a final resort, or, if your question STILL isn't answered, use the "contact us" form to let us know, and we'll do our best to help! Thanks so much for being a voter!