ALABAMA, USA — Today, October 19, is the last day to register to vote in Alabama, and the Secretary of State's office will be open late to take questions and help voters.
Eligible Alabamians can register to vote online at AlabamaVotes.gov, through the mobile app “Vote for Alabama”, or by visiting their county board of registrars office.
Have a question about voting or registration? The Secretary of State's office will be open to take your calls.
“The Office of the Secretary of State is willing and available to assist any Alabamian who is looking to register to vote today. Any individual who has a question about the process can call our office at (334) 242-7200,” stated Secretary of State John H. Merrill. “Our staff will be accessible until 11:59 PM tonight to answer any last-minute questions.”
Online registrations will be accepted until 11:59 PM and in-person registrations will be accepted until the close of business today, October 19.
To submit an application to register to vote, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be a citizen of the United States.
- You must live in the State of Alabama.
- You must be at least 18 years of age on or before election day.
- You must not be barred from voting by reason of a disqualifying felony conviction.
- You must not have been judged "mentally incompetent" in a court of law.
Concerned about COVID-19 and want to vote absentee? The deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 29, but officials recommend not waiting until the last minute in order to allow time for your ballot to be delivered AND returned by the deadline. The Alabama Secretary of State's office lists these deadlines:
"An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election and received by the Absentee Election Manager no later than noon on election day. If hand-delivered, the ballot must be in the office of the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business (but no later than 5 p.m.) on the day prior to the election."