Register by Monday, Oct. 19, to vote Nov. 3. Alabama has no early voting; mailed absentee applications are due Oct. 27. Jefferson County registrars: 205-325-5550.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Dates come from the Alabama Secretary of State’s 2026 administrative election calendar (PDF) and absentee voting page; local contacts from the City of Hoover’s Elections pages. This page is strictly factual and endorses no candidate or position.
The next election is the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Hoover voters in both Jefferson County and Shelby County vote on the statewide ballot. The last day to register is Monday, Oct. 19. Alabama has no early voting; voters who cannot get to the polls vote absentee.
Who to call
- Jefferson County Board of Registrars: 205-325-5550
- Shelby County Board of Registrars: 205-669-3913
- Alabama Secretary of State, Elections Division: 1-800-274-8683
- Hoover city elections: City Clerk’s Office, 205-444-7557
- Check your registration and polling place: Alabama Votes My Info
Key dates for Nov. 3
From the Secretary of State’s calendar:
| Date | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 19 | Last day to register to vote |
| Monday, Oct. 26 | Absentee applications from now on without a copy of photo ID get a provisional ballot |
| Tuesday, Oct. 27 | Mailed absentee applications must be received |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | Hand-delivered absentee applications must be received |
| Monday, Nov. 2 | Hand-delivered absentee ballots due by close of business, no later than 5 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Election Day; mailed absentee ballots must be received by noon |
Registering to vote
Register or update your address online through the Secretary of State’s voter registration page, or download the paper form and send it to your county Board of Registrars. You can also ask the Secretary of State, or the Jefferson or Shelby registrars, to mail you a form. After the board confirms you are eligible, it mails you a voter identification card that names your polling place, according to the city’s Registering to Vote page.
Hoover sits in two counties. Register with the county where you live: Jefferson County residents with the Jefferson County Board of Registrars, Shelby County residents with Shelby’s.
Where to vote
Look up your polling place on the Secretary of State’s My Info page, which also confirms that you are registered. The city’s Locate Your Polling Place page links an interactive map of Hoover voting locations and lists the places used for city elections; county and state elections can use different places, so check My Info for Nov. 3.
No early voting: how absentee works
Alabama does not offer early voting. Voters who will be away, are ill or have another reason they cannot vote at the polls can vote absentee, according to the Secretary of State’s absentee voting page:
- Apply. Send an absentee ballot application, with a copy of your photo ID, to the absentee election manager for your county. Mailed applications must arrive at least seven days before the election (Oct. 27); hand-delivered applications at least five days before (Oct. 29).
- Vote and return the ballot. A mailed ballot must reach the absentee election manager by noon on Election Day. A hand-delivered ballot must be in the office by the close of business, no later than 5 p.m., the day before (Nov. 2). Voters hand-deliver their own ballot.
- Emergencies. Voters with a medical emergency, or whose close relative dies, within five days of the election can apply for an emergency absentee ballot after the regular deadline.
Photo ID at the polls
Alabama requires an approved photo ID to vote, including a valid driver’s license or nondriver ID (unexpired or expired less than 60 days), according to the Secretary of State’s photo voter ID page. Voters without one can get a free Alabama photo voter ID from the Secretary of State, the county Board of Registrars or the state’s mobile unit.
Sample ballots and results
The Secretary of State posts 2026 general election sample ballots by county, along with the certified candidate lists and the statewide constitutional amendments on its 2026 election page.
City elections
Hoover elects a mayor and seven City Council members, all at large, every four years, according to the city’s Elections page. The last city election was in 2025, with a runoff on Sept. 23, 2025. The City Clerk’s Office runs city elections and in-person absentee voting for them at City Hall, 100 Municipal Lane.
What this means for you
- Register by Monday, Oct. 19.
- Absentee is the only way to vote before Election Day; mailed applications are due Oct. 27.
- Bring a photo ID to the polls on Nov. 3.
Related: who to call at City Hall and moving to Hoover.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to register to vote in Alabama for Nov. 3, 2026?
Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s election calendar. Register online through the Secretary of State or with your county Board of Registrars.
Does Alabama have early voting?
No. Alabama does not offer no-excuse early voting. Voters who cannot vote at the polls on Election Day can vote by absentee ballot, by mail or in person at the absentee election manager’s office.
When is the absentee ballot deadline in Alabama?
For the Nov. 3, 2026, election, a mailed application must arrive by Tuesday, Oct. 27, and a hand-delivered one by Thursday, Oct. 29. A mailed ballot must arrive by noon Nov. 3; a hand-delivered ballot by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2.
Where do I vote in Hoover?
Look up your polling place on the Secretary of State’s My Info page, or call the Jefferson County Board of Registrars at 205-325-5550 or the Shelby County Board of Registrars at 205-669-3913.
What ID do I need to vote in Alabama?
An approved photo ID, such as a valid Alabama driver’s license or nondriver ID. Voters without one can get a free Alabama photo voter ID from the Secretary of State or the county Board of Registrars.
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