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Can I vote by mail in Alabama?
Only with a qualifying reason.
You need an approved reason, such as travel, illness or disability, age, or work. Check your state's list. If you don't qualify, early in-person voting is usually an option.
- Voter registrationMon, Oct 19Passed
- NextAsk for your mail ballot. Your request must arrive byTue, Oct 272 days
Ask now: a request on the last day leaves no time to mail the ballot back.
Request it on the official site ↗Track my ballot ↗
Missed the request deadline?
- Voters sent away by an employer unexpectedly, caregivers of someone needing emergency treatment within 5 days of the election, or voters whose close family member died within 5 days of the election. Deadline: Mon, Nov 2, 5 p.m.. Emergency Absentee Ballot Application to the county Absentee Election Manager (usually the Circuit Clerk). source
- Voters with a medical emergency needing a physician's treatment within 5 days of the election. Deadline: Tue, Nov 3, noon. Medical Emergency Absentee Ballot Application, certified by the physician; someone you designate turns in the application, picks up the ballot and returns it voted. source
- Mail it byTue, Oct 272 days
USPS says allow 7 days. Your ballot must be received by Tue, Nov 3. After this date, use a drop box or return it in person.
- Returning it:
Received by noon on Election Day if mailed; by 5 p.m. Nov. 2 if hand delivered.
Dropping it off? There are no public drop boxes here, so the mail or an election office is your route.
Who can return it for you: You must return it yourself, with narrow exceptions. You return your own ballot by U.S. Mail, a commercial carrier, or by handing it to the Absentee Election Manager yourself; the only exception is your designee under medical-emergency absentee voting. No drop boxes. source
- Election DayTue, Nov 39 days
If your ballot gets flagged
If your ballot was flagged
Alabama has no statewide process to fix a flagged mail ballot. Call your county election office right away and ask whether you can still vote another way, such as in person.
Call your county election office. You can say:
Hi, I voted by mail and my ballot was flagged. What do I need to do to fix it, and by when? Can I do it today?
Trouble voting? Free, nonpartisan hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE · 888-VE-Y-VOTA · 888-API-VOTE · 844-YALLA-US
Where are you with your ballot?
Where are you with your ballot?
Will your ballot count in Alabama?
Will your ballot count in Alabama?
- Is this your first time voting by mail?
- Have you moved since you last voted?
- Has your signature changed much since you registered?
Why ballots get rejected in Alabama, and how to avoid it
- Extra step in your state: two witnesses (18+) or a notary must sign the envelope. This is the #1 reason ballots get tossed where it applies.
- Sign the envelope. An unsigned envelope is the most common fixable mistake.
- Use the secrecy sleeve if one is included, then the return envelope. Don't tape anything.
- Keep the phone and email on your registration current. If there's a problem, that's how they reach you to fix it.
Voting in person insteadpolling place, early voting, ID
Polling place and sample ballot: Your state's voter portal shows where you vote in person, what's on your ballot, and your registration status, all from your address. Open the voter portal
Open now through Thu, Oct 29. Locations and hours
Bring a photo ID. If you don't have one there's a fallback, usually signing an affidavit or having your signature checked, and your ballot still counts that day.
Accepted: AL driver's license or nondriver ID (expired < 60 days), AL photo voter ID card, any state or federal photo ID, US passport, government employee ID, AL college student/employee ID, military ID, tribal ID Without one: Provisional ballot (ID must be delivered to the registrar by 5 p.m. Friday after the election for it to count), OR vote a regular ballot if two election officials positively identify you and sign an affidavit.
More about your statepermanent list, counting, alerts
Alabama cannot start counting mail ballots until Election Day itself, so results take longer than you might expect. Results are certified Tue, Nov 24.
- Military or overseas. You're covered by federal law (UOCAVA), which usually gives you longer deadlines and electronic delivery. Use the Federal Post Card Application to register and request a ballot in one step. If your ballot doesn't arrive, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is your backup. FVAP.gov
- College student. You can register at your school address or your family's, not both. If you're registered back home and away at school, request a mail ballot from home early; campus mail is slow. Some states require a specific reason for students to vote absentee, so check your state's rule above. Student voter guide
- Disability or need help marking a ballot. Every state must offer an accessible way to vote. Most have an accessible mail-ballot option you can mark on a screen reader or your own device, and all allow a person of your choice (not your employer or union rep) to assist. Ask your county election office for the accessible absentee ballot. If illness, a hospital stay or a disability keeps you from the polls AFTER the request deadline, most states still have a way to get you a ballot: see "Missed the request deadline?" under your state's dates, and "Who can return it for you" for whether a family member or helper may carry it back. EAC: voters with disabilities
- Moved recently. Your registration is tied to your address. If you moved within your state, update it before the registration deadline; if you've moved across state lines, register in the new state. Moved after the deadline? Many states let you vote at your old precinct one last time or update in person; call your county. vote.gov
- Past felony conviction. Rules vary widely: some states restore rights automatically on release, others after probation or parole, a few require a separate process. Don't assume you can't vote. Check your state before the registration deadline. NCSL: restoration of voting rights
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Verified against the official page 2026-09-09. Rule checked 2026-09-09. Deadlines checked 2026-09-09. Request deadlines are "received by," not postmarked. The official site wins if anything differs. Spot something wrong? We check every report against the state's own page and fix errors as soon as they're reported. Email fix@ballotbymail.org or use the report form.