MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama officials are encouraging residents across the state to participate in the upcoming May 19, 2026 Primary Election as ongoing court rulings and redistricting decisions continue to impact several congressional races.
Governor Kay Ivey, Secretary of State Wes Allen, and Attorney General Steve Marshall have each issued statements in recent days addressing election procedures, voter requirements, and the effects of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision involving Alabama’s congressional maps.
Governor Ivey encouraged Alabamians to head to the polls on May 19, emphasizing the importance of civic participation.
“As citizens, it is our patriotic duty to vote,” Ivey said. “Alabama is experiencing historic momentum, and you selecting strong elected leaders will help our state be even more successful in the years ahead. If you don’t vote, you can’t gripe.”
The May 19 Primary Election will include statewide constitutional offices, legislative races, judicial contests, local elections, and two constitutional amendments. Polls will be open statewide from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters are required to present a valid photo ID.
Election procedures for congressional races changed following a recent U.S. Supreme Court order that vacated a previously court-ordered congressional map and allowed Alabama to move forward using the state’s legislatively enacted 2023 congressional map.
Governor Ivey called the decision “a win for Alabamians.”
“I will continue to say: Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best,” Ivey stated. “The United States Supreme Court’s decision is plain common sense and enables our values to be best represented in Congress.”
Following the ruling, Governor Ivey issued a proclamation setting a Special Primary Election for Tuesday, August 11, 2026, for Congressional Districts 1, 2, 6, and 7. According to the governor’s office, there will be no runoff election, and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes will become the party nominee.
Secretary of State Wes Allen held a press conference this week to clarify how the election process will proceed.
“Here is what I want every Alabama voter to remember: Go vote on May 19,” Allen said. “Votes for statewide constitutional offices, local races, state legislative, and judicial races, as well as statewide constitutional amendments will count on May 19. If you live in Congressional Districts 1, 2, 6, or 7, your vote for those races on August 11 will decide those races.”
Allen explained that while congressional votes in those four districts cast on May 19 will still be tabulated and publicly reported, they will not determine party nominees because of the newly scheduled August special primary.
Qualifying for candidates in Congressional Districts 1, 2, 6, and 7 with major political parties will begin May 20 and close May 22 at 5 p.m.
Allen also reiterated Alabama’s voter identification requirements ahead of the election, noting that Alabama law requires all voters to present a valid physical photo ID before voting.
Acceptable forms of identification include Alabama driver licenses, state-issued IDs, passports, military IDs, certain employee and student IDs, tribal IDs, and Alabama Photo Voter ID cards. Digital IDs are not accepted for voting purposes.
“My record on photo voter identification requirements is very clear,” Allen said. “I have worked hard to ensure that Alabama has some of the most airtight voter ID laws in the nation.”
The Secretary of State’s Office also reminded voters of absentee ballot deadlines. Mail-in absentee ballot applications must be received by county absentee election managers by May 12, while in-person absentee ballot application deadlines are May 14. Completed absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by noon on Election Day.
Attorney General Steve Marshall also issued statements defending Alabama’s congressional and state senate maps and supporting the state’s efforts to use legislatively approved district lines.
Marshall recently asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block the use of a court-ordered congressional map prior to the May 19 election, arguing that Alabama’s maps were drawn using lawful policy goals rather than racial considerations.
“I will continue to fight for Alabama to be able to use the congressional map the people’s elected representatives enacted,” Marshall said.
Marshall’s office cited the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais as support for Alabama’s legal arguments regarding redistricting standards under the Voting Rights Act.
Despite the ongoing litigation, state officials repeatedly stressed that the May 19 Primary Election will proceed as scheduled.
“Be sure to vote that day,” Allen said.
