Voting Guide

By Mail

You may vote an absentee ballot by mail for one of the following reasons:

• You are a registered Alabama voter living outside the county in which you are registered, including military members, their spouses, and dependents, U.S. citizens residing overseas, and students at colleges or universities located outside their counties of residence;

• You will be absent from the county or state—or municipality for municipal elections—on Election Day;

• You are ill or have a physical infirmity that prevents you from going to the polls;

• You expect to work a shift which has at least 10 hours coinciding with polling hours on election day; 

• You are an appointed election officer or poll watcher at a polling place other than your own;

• You are a caregiver to a family member who is confined to their home;

• You are incarcerated at a prison or jail and have not been convicted of a felony involving 

Applications for absentee ballots returned by mail must include a copy of acceptable voter ID and must be received by your county’s Absentee Election Manager no later than seven days before the Election Day. Applications returned by hand must be received no less than five days before Election Day.

To be counted, an absentee ballot must be notarized or signed by two witnesses over the age of 18.

Completed absentee ballots returned in person must be received by the closing of business, and no later than 5 p.m., on the day prior to Election Day. Absentee ballots submitted by mail must be received by the Absentee Election Manager by noon on Election Day.

Election Day

• Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, you have the right to vote.