Absentee voting is available if you meet any of the criteria below. If you qualify, you need to request your mail-in ballot either:
- Five days before the election if you're applying in person, or
- Seven days before if you're mailing your request.
Make sure your voted ballot is received by:
- Noon on Election Day if you're mailing it, or
- By the end of the day before Election Day if you're dropping it off in person.
You can track your absentee ballot here.
Absentee Voting Eligibility
You may cast an absentee ballot if you:
-
Are a registered Alabama voter living outside the county
-
Are an appointed election officer or poll watcher at a polling place other than your regular polling place
-
You are working a required shift of ten hours or more that coincides with polling hours
-
Are a caregiver for a family member (to the second degree of kinship) and the family member is confined to their home
-
Currently incarcerated in prison or jail, but have not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude.
Business and medical emergency voting applications can be made after the absentee deadline, but no later than 5:00 pm on the day before the election for business emergencies and up to noon on the day of the election for medical emergencies, if you:
-
Are required by an employer under unforeseen circumstances to be out of the county on Election Day for an emergency business trip
-
Are a caregiver of a person who requires emergency treatment by a licensed physician within 5 days before an election
-
Has a family member to the second degree of kinship by affinity or consanguinity die within 5 days before an election
-
Have a medical emergency requiring treatment from a licensed physician
Upon receiving the absentee ballot application, the absentee election manager may request additional evidence on the reason for voting absentee if you have a history of absentee voting.
If the absentee ballot application is approved, the absentee election manager forwards the absentee ballot by U.S. Mail or personally hands the absentee ballot to the voter (or to a designee in the case of emergency voting).
Ballot Receipt/Return
You can return the absentee ballot:
Your absentee ballot needs to be mailed and postmarked by the day before the election. It must arrive and be received no later than noon on Election Day. If you're delivering it by hand, it must be given to the Absentee Election Manager's office by the end of the business day (no later than 5 pm) on the day before the election.
ID Requirements
If you vote an absentee ballot you must submit a copy of a valid photo ID. If you are entitled to vote absentee through the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, or any other federal law, you are not required to show the photo ID when voting absentee.
Voting in Person
Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person may only do so by a provisional ballot. Do not mail a ballot and vote in person. For specifics, you can find your local county clerk contact info here.
Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.
Request your Ballot