Alabama Sets 2026 General Election Date and Prepares Important Ballots
Voters across Alabama will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide major statewide offices, legislative seats, and constitutional amendments.
Voters in Alabama are preparing for an important election cycle as the state officially sets its general election date for November 3, 2026. Polling locations across the state will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, giving citizens the opportunity to cast ballots in numerous high-profile races, including the contest for governor and multiple statewide offices.
The 2026 ballot features several prominent executive positions, as candidates compete for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, commissioner of agriculture and industries, and state treasurer. Additionally, the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Tommy Tuberville is up for grabs, as Tuberville pursues a run for the governorship.
Congressional representation is also set to shift. One of Alabama's seven U.S. House seats will definitely change hands because incumbent Representative Barry Moore is running for the Senate. The state's congressional district maps were previously revised following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, leading to a special primary election held in August for four congressional seats, with Republicans looking to capture the seat currently held by Representative Shomari Figures.
At the local and state legislative levels, all 140 seats in the Alabama legislature will be on the ballot. Voters will also decide on various local races depending on their municipality, alongside four statewide ballot amendments that heavily impact public schools.
Citizens intending to participate must complete their voter registration by October 19, 2026. Alabama requires individuals to present a valid form of photo identification at their polling place or when utilizing an absentee ballot. Voters lacking a standard photo ID may still cast a ballot if positively identified by two election officials and after completing a signed affidavit, while free Alabama photo identification cards remain accessible through local Board of Registrars offices.
For voters unable to visit a polling place in person on Election Day, absentee voting is permitted under specific state eligibility requirements. Important mail-in and in-person absentee deadlines include October 27 as the final day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail, October 29 as the last day to apply in person, and November 2 for hand-delivering requests. Mail-in absentee ballots must arrive by noon on November 3.
State regulations explicitly prohibit in-person early voting, meaning citizens must either vote absentee if eligible or vote strictly on Election Day. Furthermore, Alabama law bars voters from crossing over to vote in a different party's runoff election if they participated in a primary, though voters retain the freedom to support different political parties between the primary and general elections.