Alabama

Your rights at the polls guide

Your Rights Under Federal Law

  • All voters have the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of race, national origin, or disability.
  • All voters have the right to vote free of intimidation.
  • All voters who need assistance by reason of disability or inability to read and write in the language of the ballot may choose someone to assist them to vote, as long as the person is not an agent/representative of the voter’s employer or union.

Your Rights When You
Check-In To Vote

Only an election inspector may challenge your right to vote at the precinct. Poll watchers may only point out issues to officials.

Inactive status: If you are told that you are listed as “inactive,” you may still vote so long as you complete a Voter Reidentification “Update” Form and still live in the same county. Voters are deemed “inactive” when their address cannot be confirmed. If the new address you provide on the Voter Reidentification “Update” Form does not change your polling place, you will be able to vote a regular ballot after you complete the Form. If the new address changes your polling place, you will be instructed to go to that polling place where you will vote a provisional ballot. If the new address is outside the county, you will not be able to vote.

After a challenge, you have the right to:

Receive a copy of the challenge statement filed by the election inspector and notice via mail from the board of registrars with an explanation detailing how you may respond to the challenge. The board of registrars may only consider the challenge once you have had notice and an opportunity to be heard.

Vote a provisional ballot if your name does not appear on the list of registered voters, an inspector has otherwise challenged you, you are listed as receiving an absentee ballot, or you do not have the required identification. If you cast a provisional ballot because you do not have identification, you must provide the board of registrars with your identification no later than 5pm on the Friday following the election.

Q&A: Your rights inside the polling place

01. What can a poll worker ask me?
The elections officer will ask for your name and your ID.
02. Who can I speak to if I am having any issues or problems with a poll worker?
Attempt to inform the election inspector or another poll worker of the issue. If this does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection. A poll watcher may not disturb voters, attempt to influence voters, campaign, or display or wear any campaign material or buttons while inside any polling place.
03. I notice some poll watchers are taking photographs inside the polling place. Is that allowed?
No one may take general photos in the polling place, including photos of the room where voting takes place. This is voter intimidation. Voters may take photos of their own ballot, but use of mobile phones or cameras should not disturb any other voters or disrupt the polling place in any way. Call Election Protection if that does not resolve the issue.
04. Who gets to decide who is inside the polling place?

The election inspector controls who is inside the polling place.

People must stay outside the 30-foot limit outside the polling place if they are not a voter admitted to vote, a person assisting the voter, the Probate Judge, the Sheriff or the Deputy Sheriff, a precinct election official, or a poll watcher. Once someone has voted, they may no longer stand in line.

05. Who can I talk to if someone is trying to get in the way of me completing my ballot?
Speak to the election inspector. They have the authority to remove disruptive people from the voting location and to decide whether to contact law enforcement. If that does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection.
06. What are my rights if I need help voting?

Voters are entitled to assistance. If a voter has a disability that requires assistance to vote, the voter may bring a person of their choice to help them vote. The person providing assistance may not be a candidate for office or the voter’s union representative or employer. A voter may ask a member of the election board to assist them with voting. The voter does not need to state a reason for requesting assistance.

Voters over the age of 70 or voters with physical disabilities may request that they be moved to the front of the line at a polling place.

Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Alabama legal professional. Updated August 2024. Contact Fair Elections Center at
info@fairelection.codpixels.com

If you have questions or are experiencing problems voting, call the Election Protection Hotline and speak with a volunteer to get help.
  • Call in English: 866-OUR-VOTE
  • CALL in Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA
  • Call in Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE
  • CALL in Arabic: 844-YALLA-US

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