How to vote in my state
Alabama
Last updated February 2, 2023
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Absentee (Mail-in) Voting
You may vote absentee in Alabama if you are:
- Absent from the country on Election Day
- Ill or have a physical disability that prevents a trip to the polling place
- A registered Alabama voter living outside of the country
- An appointed election officer or poll watcher at a polling place other than your regular polling place
- Working a required shift, 10-hours or more, that coincides with polling hours
- Currently in prison or jail and have not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude
Business/medical emergency voting applications can be made after the absentee deadline but no later than 5 PM on the day before the election, if the voter:
- is required by an employer under unforeseen circumstances to be out of the county on election day for an emergency business trip, or
- has a medical emergency requiring treatment from a licensed physician
In addition to application information outlined in the next section, the business emergency application contains an affidavit acknowledging that the voter was not aware of the out-of-county business trip prior to the normal absentee ballot deadline. The medical emergency application requires that the attending physician describe and certify the circumstances as constituting an emergency.
To obtain an absentee ballot, write or visit the local Absentee Election Manager (usually the Circuit Clerk), request an absentee ballot, and provide the following:
- name and residential address (or other such information in order to verify voter registration)
- a copy of your valid photo identification
- election for which the ballot is requested
- reason for absence from polls on election day
- party choice, if the election is a party primary. (It is not necessary to give a party choice for a general election; however, in a party primary a voter may participate in only one political party’s primary; thus a choice must be designated so that the appropriate ballot can be provided. If the voter declines or fails to designate a choice for a primary or primary runoff ballot, the absentee election manager may send only the ballot for constitutional amendments.)
- address to which the ballot should be mailed
- voter signature. (Signature must be original, electronic signatures will not be accepted. If a mark is made in place of a signature, it must be witnessed.)
What to Expect
on Election Day
On Election Day, polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Voter ID Requirements
You must bring a valid photo ID with you to vote on Election Day:
- Valid Alabama Driver’s License (not expired or has been expired less than 60 days)
- Valid Alabama Nondriver ID (not expired or has been expired less than 60 days)
- Valid Alabama Photo Voter ID Card
- 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, Municipality, Board, or other entity of this state
- Valid student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
- Valid student or employee ID issued by a state institution of higher learning in any other state
- Valid Military ID
- Valid Tribal ID
Language Access
Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act requires certain jurisdictions to provide in-language voting materials in areas with a significant number of limited English proficient voters.
Section 208
Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act states that, “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 the employer or office or agent of the voter’s union.”
It is your right to bring your own interpreter to the polls, if you so choose.
Have questions or need help voting?
Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683).
Bilingual assistance is available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali. Click here for more information.
