Register by Monday, Oct. 19, to vote Nov. 3. Alabama has no early voting; mailed absentee applications are due Oct. 27. Jefferson County registrars: 205-325-5550.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Dates come from the Alabama Secretary of State’s 2026 administrative election calendar (PDF) and absentee voting page; local contacts from the Jefferson County Board of Registrars. This page is strictly factual and endorses no candidate or position.
The next election is the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, with the statewide ballot and Jefferson County races. The last day to register is Monday, Oct. 19. Alabama has no early voting; voters who cannot get to the polls and qualify under state law vote absentee.
Who to call
- Jefferson County Board of Registrars: 205-325-5550 (voting info)
- Absentee ballots, Birmingham Division: the county’s absentee election manager, by email at jackie.smith@alacourt.gov
- Alabama Secretary of State, Elections Division: 1-800-274-8683
- Check your registration and polling place: Alabama Votes My Info
Key dates for Nov. 3
From the Secretary of State’s calendar:
| Date | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 19 | Last day to register to vote |
| Tuesday, Oct. 27 | Mailed absentee applications must be received |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | Hand-delivered absentee applications must be received |
| Monday, Nov. 2 | Hand-delivered absentee ballots due by close of business, no later than 5 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Election Day; mailed absentee ballots must be received by noon |
Registering to vote
Register or update your address online through the Secretary of State’s voter registration page, or fill out the paper form and send it to the Jefferson County Board of Registrars. The county posts a list of registration locations (PDF). Moved within Birmingham? Update your address so you are assigned the right polling place.
Where to vote
Look up your polling place on the Secretary of State’s My Info page, which also confirms that you are registered. Jefferson County publishes the full Birmingham Division voting locations list (PDF) and posts polling place changes. Jefferson County is split into a Birmingham Division and a Bessemer Division for elections; Birmingham voters are in the Birmingham Division.
No early voting: how absentee works
Alabama does not offer early voting. The Secretary of State’s absentee voting page lists who qualifies, including voters who expect to be out of the county, are ill or have a disability that keeps them from the polls, work a required shift of 10 hours or more during polling hours, or are caregivers for a homebound family member.
- Apply. Send an application, with a copy of your photo ID, to the county’s absentee election manager. Mailed applications must arrive at least seven days before the election (Oct. 27); hand-delivered applications at least five days before (Oct. 29).
- Vote and return the ballot. The affidavit envelope must be notarized or signed by two witnesses 18 or older. A mailed ballot must arrive by noon on Election Day; a hand-delivered ballot must be in the office by the close of business, no later than 5 p.m., the day before (Nov. 2). Voters hand-deliver only their own ballot.
- Emergencies. A voter with a medical emergency, or whose close relative dies, within five days of the election can apply for an emergency absentee ballot after the regular deadline.
Photo ID at the polls
Alabama requires an approved photo ID to vote, including a valid driver’s license or nondriver ID, according to the Secretary of State’s photo voter ID page. Voters without one can get a free Alabama photo voter ID from the Secretary of State or the county Board of Registrars.
Sample ballots
The Secretary of State posts 2026 general election sample ballots by county, along with the statewide constitutional amendments on its 2026 election page.
City elections
Birmingham elects a mayor and nine City Council members, one from each district, to four-year terms, according to the city’s council districts page. Mayor Randall L. Woodfin is serving a third term, according to the city’s November 2025 announcement. Find your council district on the city’s find your district page.
What this means for you
- Register by Monday, Oct. 19.
- Absentee is the only way to vote before Election Day; mailed applications are due Oct. 27.
- Bring a photo ID to the polls on Nov. 3.
Related: who to call at City Hall and moving to Birmingham.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to register to vote in Alabama for Nov. 3, 2026?
Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s election calendar. Register online through the Secretary of State or with the Jefferson County Board of Registrars.
Does Alabama have early voting?
No. Voters who qualify under state law, for example because they will be out of the county, are ill or work a 10-hour shift during polling hours, can vote by absentee ballot instead.
When is the absentee ballot deadline in Jefferson County?
A mailed application must arrive by Tuesday, Oct. 27, and a hand-delivered one by Thursday, Oct. 29. A mailed ballot must arrive by noon Nov. 3; a hand-delivered ballot by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2.
Where do I vote in Birmingham?
Look up your polling place on the Secretary of State’s My Info page, or check the county’s list of Birmingham Division voting locations. The Board of Registrars is at 205-325-5550.
What ID do I need to vote in Alabama?
An approved photo ID, such as a valid Alabama driver’s license or nondriver ID. Voters without one can get a free Alabama photo voter ID from the Secretary of State or the Board of Registrars.
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