Alabama 2026 Elections: Races, Ballot Measures, and Polling

Election Overview

Alabama voters will head to the polls in 2026 for a significant election cycle featuring races for U.S. Senate, Governor, all seven U.S. House seats, and state legislative positions. The Heart of Dixie will play an important role in determining the balance of power in Congress while also selecting statewide leadership for the next four years. With traditionally high Republican turnout in recent cycles, both parties will focus on mobilizing their bases while competing for swing voters in suburban areas around Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile.

Key Races

U.S. Senate

Alabama's U.S. Senate seat is up for election in 2026, with incumbent Senator Katie Britt seeking her second term. First elected in 2022, Britt became Alabama's first elected female senator and has focused on conservative priorities including border security, economic development, and supporting military families. The race will test whether Democrats can make inroads in a state that has trended increasingly Republican over the past two decades.

Governor

Governor Kay Ivey's current term expires in 2027, and the 2026 gubernatorial race will determine Alabama's chief executive for the next four years. The governor oversees state agencies, proposes budgets, and plays a key role in education policy, economic development, and infrastructure projects. Alabama governors serve four-year terms with no consecutive term limits.

U.S. House of Representatives

All seven of Alabama's congressional districts will be on the ballot. Following court-ordered redistricting in 2023, Alabama now has two majority-Black districts (District 2 and District 7), which has altered the competitive landscape. While most districts remain solidly Republican, the new District 2 is expected to be competitive between both major parties.

State Legislature

All 105 seats in the Alabama House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Alabama Senate will be contested. Republicans currently hold supermajorities in both chambers, giving them significant control over state policy including education funding, healthcare expansion, and voting laws.

Ballot Measures

Alabama's ballot initiative process requires constitutional amendments to be approved by the state legislature before appearing on the ballot. While specific measures for 2026 are still being finalized, potential topics under discussion include education funding reforms, property tax adjustments, and healthcare access. Alabama does not allow citizen-initiated ballot measures, so all constitutional amendments must originate in the legislature. Voters should expect several proposed amendments covering local and statewide issues when the final ballot is certified in late summer 2026.

Key Dates

Voter Registration Deadline: October 19, 2026 (15 days before the general election)
Primary Election: May 26, 2026
Primary Runoff (if needed): July 14, 2026
Early Voting Period: Not available in Alabama (absentee voting only)
General Election Day: November 3, 2026

How to Vote in Alabama

Voter ID Requirements

Alabama requires voters to present a valid photo ID at the polls. Acceptable forms include an Alabama driver's license, Alabama photo voter ID card (free from county registrars), U.S. passport, employee ID from federal or state government, student or employee ID from a public college or university in Alabama, U.S. military ID, or tribal photo ID.

Early Voting

Alabama does not offer traditional early voting. However, absentee voting is available for qualified voters who meet specific criteria, including being away from the county on Election Day, having a physical illness or infirmity, working a required shift, being a caretaker, or being over 65 years old.

Absentee Voting

Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to your county absentee election manager. Applications can be requested online, by mail, or in person. Completed absentee ballots must be returned by mail or delivered in person by Election Day. Alabama does not have a universal mail-in voting system.

More Information

Visit the Alabama Secretary of State website for voter registration, polling place lookup, and election information.

Current Political Landscape

Alabama has shifted significantly toward Republican candidates over the past two decades. In the 2024 presidential election, the state voted Republican by a comfortable margin, continuing a trend that began in the 1980s. The state's major metropolitan areas, particularly Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, and Huntsville, contain Democratic strongholds, while rural areas and suburbs lean heavily Republican.

Recent elections have seen increased focus on suburban growth areas like Madison County (Huntsville) and Baldwin County, where population growth and economic development have created more diverse electorates. Issues like education funding, healthcare access, and economic opportunity remain top priorities for voters across the political spectrum. The state's large African American population, concentrated in the Black Belt region and major cities, represents a crucial Democratic constituency, while white evangelical voters form the core of the Republican base.