Alabama absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the request deadline
- Receive your ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 5 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by NOON on Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
You can vote by absentee ballot in Alabama if:
- you will be absent from the county on Election Day
- you are ill or have a physical disability that prevents a trip to the polling place
- you are a registered Alabama voter who is temporarily living outside the county
- you are an appointed election officer or poll watcher at a polling place other than your regular polling place
- you work a required shift of 10 hours or more that coincides with polling hours
Alabama does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- Download the Alabama absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 5 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by NOON on Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
You must include a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID with your absentee ballot application. Acceptable forms of ID include any photo ID issued by the State of Alabama or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, or a student or employee ID from any accredited American college or university. Additionally you must include your driver's license number OR the last four digits of your Social Security Number on the application.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected. Additionally, your voted ballot must be notarized or signed by two witnesses.
Track your ballot here: Alabama absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if it's missing a witness or notary signature.
- You will not be allowed to fix this issue. Your ballot will simply not be counted.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if:
- you have a medical emergency within five days of Election Day
- your work schedule changes within 5 days of the election and you will no longer be able to vote at the polls on Election Day.
- you are a caregiver of a person who requires emergency treatment by a licensed physician within five days before Election Day.
- you have a family who dies within 5 days before Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 1 day before Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is NOON on Election Day
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Alabama elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Office of the Secretary of State P.O. Box 5616 Montgomery, AL 36103‐5616