Everything a voter in Mobile and Mobile County needs for the General, Constitutional Amendment and Special Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026<\/strong>: who can vote, the photo ID Alabama requires, how and when to register, how absentee voting works, where to vote, what is on the ballot, and who holds every office you vote for. Every fact here was checked in September 2026 against the Alabama Secretary of State, the Probate Court of Mobile County and the Mobile County Board of Registrars.<\/p>\n\n THE DATES THAT MATTER<\/p>\n Monday, October 19, 2026<\/strong> — last day to register to vote. Registration is closed for the 14 days before an election.<\/p>\n Tuesday, October 27 \/ Thursday, October 29, 2026<\/strong> — absentee applications due: received by mail by Oct 27, or in person by Oct 29.<\/p>\n Monday, November 2, 2026<\/strong> — hand-delivered absentee ballots due by 5pm.<\/p>\n Tuesday, November 3, 2026<\/strong> — Election Day. Polls open 7am to 7pm. Mailed absentee ballots must arrive by noon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Before you go:<\/strong> Alabama requires a photo ID<\/strong> to vote, and there is no early voting<\/strong> in Alabama — you vote on Election Day at your assigned polling place, or by absentee ballot if you qualify. More than 37,000 Mobile County voters were found marked “inactive” in the 2025 mayoral runoff, so check your registration now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Can I vote?<\/a> The ID you need<\/a> Registering<\/a> Primaries & party<\/a> When to vote<\/a> Where to vote<\/a> My ballot<\/a> The offices, explained<\/a> Learn more<\/a> Who to call<\/a><\/p>\n\n To register in Alabama you must be a United States citizen, live in Alabama, and be at least 18 on or before Election Day. You cannot register if a court has declared you mentally incompetent, or if you have a disqualifying felony conviction and your rights have not been restored. Alabama does not register voters by party.<\/p>\n In Alabama, only a felony “involving moral turpitude” takes away your right to vote, and the state law lists exactly which ones (Ala. Code § 17-3-30.1, updated in 2024). They include murder and manslaughter; first- and second-degree assault; kidnapping; rape, sodomy and other sex offenses; human trafficking; robbery; first- and second-degree burglary and theft; forgery; drug trafficking<\/em>; aggravated child abuse; terrorism and treason; and any felony against an election official. If your felony is not on the list — simple drug possession, for example — you can register to vote now.<\/strong><\/p>\n If your conviction is on the list, you can apply to the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote (CERV)<\/strong>. You qualify if you were not convicted of an excluded offense (such as murder, rape, certain sex offenses against children or treason), have no pending felony charges, have finished your sentence including parole or probation, and have paid all fines, court costs, fees and restitution. People who do not qualify for a CERV can apply for a pardon instead. Bureau of Pardons and Paroles: (334) 242-8700.<\/p>\n\n Restore your voting rights (CERV)<\/a>The full list of disqualifying crimes<\/a><\/p>\n\n Bring one<\/strong> of these to the polls:<\/p>\n Only the Alabama driver’s license and non-driver ID get the 60-day grace period — every other ID must be current.<\/p>\n If you are registered and do not have a valid photo ID, the Mobile County Board of Registrars<\/strong> issues a free Alabama Photo Voter ID card: 151 Government Street, Room 165, Mobile, AL 36602, (251) 574-8586, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. Bring a document showing your full legal name and date of birth. VoteRiders will help you gather what you need for free — call or text 866-432-8683.<\/p>\n You can still vote a regular ballot if two election officials at your polling place positively identify you as an eligible voter and sign a sworn statement. Otherwise you vote a provisional ballot<\/strong>, which only counts if you bring a valid photo ID to the Board of Registrars by 5pm on Friday, November 6, 2026<\/strong>. Absentee voters must include a copy<\/em> of their photo ID.<\/p>\n The rule:<\/strong> registration closes 14 days before every election. For November 3, 2026, the last day is Monday, October 19.<\/strong> If you mail your form, send it well before October 19 — sources disagree on whether a mailed form must be postmarked or received by that date (pending confirmation), so do not cut it close.<\/p>\n If your registration was marked inactive, Probate Judge Mark Erwin says you can fill out a short update form at your polling place and still vote a regular ballot — but check your status ahead of time.<\/p>\n\n Register to vote online<\/a>Check your registration<\/a><\/p>\n\n Alabama runs open primaries<\/strong>: you do not register by party, and you choose a party’s ballot on primary day. Since 2017 there is a crossover ban<\/strong> for runoffs — if you voted in one party’s primary, you may only vote in that same party’s runoff. The rule does not apply to general elections like November 3. This year’s primary was May 19 and the runoff June 16, 2026. A special congressional primary was held August 11 after Alabama returned to its own 2023 congressional map, under which all of Mobile County is in the 1st Congressional District<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Alabama has no in-person early voting.<\/strong> You either vote on Election Day or vote absentee if you qualify.<\/p>\n Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 7am to 7pm.<\/strong> If you are in line when polls close, you still get to vote.<\/p>\n You can vote absentee if one of these applies to you:<\/p>\n1. Can you vote?<\/h3>\n
If you have a past felony conviction<\/h4>\n
2. The ID you need<\/h3>\n
No ID? Get one free in Mobile<\/h4>\n
If you show up without ID<\/h4>\n
3. Registering to vote<\/h3>\n
4. Primaries and party<\/h3>\n
5. When to vote<\/h3>\n
Absentee voting — you need a reason<\/h4>\n