Alabama’s May 19 primary election is moving forward as planned, even as the state’s redistricting battles remain tied up in federal court.
Secretary of State Wes Allen announced Monday that Alabama will proceed with the election while it waits for decisions in congressional and state Senate redistricting cases pending before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
At the center of the dispute are Alabama’s seven congressional districts, particularly the two currently represented by Democratic U.S. Representatives Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, of Birmingham, and Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, of Mobile. Two Montgomery-area state Senate districts, SD25 and SD26, could also be redrawn.
In a statement, Allen said the ongoing litigation will not interrupt the state’s election calendar and encouraged voters to make sure they are ready.
“Alabama is proceeding with the May 19, 2026, primary election while we await court action,” Allen said. “I encourage all eligible Alabamians to verify their voter registration status using AlabamaVotes.gov and make plans to head to the polls on May 19.”
Monday, May 4, was the deadline to register to vote ahead of the primary. If you missed that cutoff, you will not be eligible to cast a ballot in this election.
Absentee voting deadlines are coming up quickly.
County absentee election managers must receive mail-in absentee ballot applications by Tuesday, May 12. The deadline to return an absentee ballot application in person is Thursday, May 14.
If you are voting absentee and plan to hand-deliver your ballot, your county’s absentee election manager must receive it by the close of business on Monday, May 18, the day before the election. Ballots returned by mail must be in by noon on Election Day, May 19.
On Election Day, polls across the state will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must present a valid photo ID before casting a ballot, whether voting in person or by absentee ballot.
The redistricting cases Allen referenced have drawn close attention, with legal fights over Alabama’s congressional and state Senate maps stretching on for months. For now, state officials are preparing to conduct the primary under the existing maps unless a court says otherwise.
