MONTGOMERY, AL — Absentee voting is underway in Alabama for the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election, and voters can now review sample ballots for all 67 counties as Election Day approaches.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen announced that absentee voting began Wednesday, Sept. 9, and reminded voters of several deadlines for requesting and returning absentee ballots.
County absentee election managers must receive absentee ballot applications submitted by mail by Tuesday, Oct. 27. The deadline to submit an absentee ballot application in person is Thursday, Oct. 29.
Completed absentee ballots returned in person must be received by the appropriate county absentee election manager by the close of business Monday, Nov. 2, the day before the election. Ballots returned by mail must arrive no later than noon on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The Secretary of State’s Office recommends that voters who plan to use the mail send both absentee ballot applications and completed ballots at least two weeks before the applicable deadlines.
Alabama voters are required to provide a valid form of photo identification when voting at a polling place or by absentee ballot.
In a separate announcement, Allen said sample ballots for the General Election are now available through the Secretary of State’s Office. The ballots allow voters to review the candidates, offices and ballot measures that will appear before voters in their respective counties.
The Secretary of State’s Office posts county sample ballots after they have been approved and received from the ballot printing vendor.
Allen thanked county probate judges and other election officials involved in preparing and reviewing the ballots, saying the process requires significant preparation ahead of Election Day.
Voters can access election information, absentee voting resources and voter information through AlabamaVotes.gov.
Sample ballots for Alabama’s 67 counties are available through the 2026 General Election Sample Ballots page.
