Voting in the State of Alabama Frequently Asked Questions

Just because you turned in a voter registration application does not necessarily mean you are registered to vote. Once your local Board of Registrars has processed your application, you should receive an acknowledgement from the Registrar indicating the status of your application. This acknowledgement will usually be a voter identification card confirming that you are registered to vote. However, if your application was incomplete, you may receive a letter requesting additional information to complete the process. If you are unsure about the status of your application, you can always call your local Board of Registrars or visit our Polling Place and Registration Status page.

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Yes. As long as you turn 18 on or before Election Day, even if your birthday is after the voter registration deadline, you can apply for voter registration and participate in that election (as long as you meet other voter qualifications). Please note that you must turn your voter registration application in before voter registration closes on the 15^th day prior to the election.

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You must contact the Board of Registrars and submit an update to your voter registration record. Remember, where you live determines who represents you. To be sure you are voting on candidates in the correct district, it is important that you vote in the correct precinct.

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When you move across county lines, you must register to vote in your new county of residence. Voter registration does not automatically follow you from one county to another.

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Yes, it is too late to register to vote for that election. To participate in an election, you must submit your application before registration closes for that election. Registration is closed fifteen days prior to an election and on Election Day.Back to Top

If you have not already placed your ballot in the electronic voting machine or a ballot box, you may ask a poll worker for another ballot. The poll worker will spoil your first ballot so that it cannot be counted or reused.Back to Top

Yes, electioneering or campaigning is permitted outside the polling place. However, this activity must not be closer than 30 feet to the entrance of the polling place. If the polling place is located in a room within a building, the campaigning must not be closer than 30 feet to the entrance of the building.Back to Top

Yes, if you ask the candidate to help you. The only people who cannot assist a voter are the voter’s employer, an agent of the voter’s employer, or an officer or agent of the voter’s union.Back to Top

Yes. However, you should not loiter or leave any campaign materials in the polling place.Back to Top

Yes. However, you should not leave the sample ballot in the polling place.Back to Top

No. You are not required to vote on constitutional amendments. Similarly, you are not required to vote in all races on the ballot. Participation is your choice.Back to Top

Yes. In fact, if you choose not to participate in nominating candidates for either political party, you can request a constitutional amendment ballot that contains only the proposed constitutional amendments.Back to Top

In Alabama, the primary election is part of the nominating process for a political party. It is used to select who will represent a party in the general election. You are required to choose one political party’s primary over another because you cannot participate in the nomination of both parties’ candidates. However, in the general election, you may split your ticket and vote for candidates from each political party.Back to Top

No. In 2017, the Alabama Legislature passed Act 2017-340. The act prohibits a person from voting in one political party's primary election and voting in a different political party's primary runoff election. Therefore, if you vote in a primary election and want to vote in a primary runoff election, you must vote in the primary runoff election of the same political party that you chose in the primary election. However, if you did not vote in a political party's primary election and would like to vote in the primary runoff election, you may choose which political party's primary runoff election you would like to vote in.Back to Top

No. Each voter has a right to cast a ballot in secrecy and in private. The U.S. Department of Justice has advised that photography or videotaping inside a polling place does not serve any useful purpose and may instead actually intimidate voters who are exercising their right to vote.Back to Top

Yes. However, use of the phone in the polling place should not disturb other voters or disrupt the polling place. If your cell phone has a camera, you cannot take photographs or film video inside the polling place. Each voter has a right to cast a ballot in secrecy and in private. The U.S. Department of Justice has advised that photography or videotaping inside a polling place does not serve any useful purpose and may instead actually intimidate voters who are exercising their right to vote.Back to Top

No, cellular devices are not allowed inside polling locations. Each voter has a right to cast a ballot with as little distraction as possible – cellular devices cause undue noise and distraction for voters. The majority of cellular devices have camera and video capabilities – the U.S. Department of Justice has advised that photography or videotaping inside a polling location does not serve any useful purpose and may instead actually intimidate voters who are exercising their right to vote.Back to Top

If you choose not to declare a political preference at the primary election, you will not be eligible to vote in any political party’s primary election. You are, however, still eligible to vote on any proposed constitutional amendments that are up for a vote.Back to Top

You can still vote, but you must go to the polls, located at Elmore Gym, find the Student Government Association table labeled inactive status, there you will be given further directions on how you can cast your vote.Back to Top

Yes, your vote will be counted upon you correcting the necessary corrections to your voter registration card.Back to Top

One will have until Friday, November 9, 2018, to make the needed corrections to your voter registration card at the Board of Registrars- 819 Cook Ave. Suite 150 Huntsville, AL 35801Back to Top

Yes, there will be buses on November 7 and November 8. Please contact Student Activities for more information.Back to Top

You can still vote, but you must fill out a provisional ballot.Back to Top

No, if someone is convicted of a felony they cannot cast their vote.Back to Top

Yes, the university will be providing an express bus to Elmore Gym and back to get students to vote.Back to Top