Register by Monday, Oct. 19, for the Nov. 3 general election. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Board of Registrars: 205-464-8415.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Alabama Secretary of State’s 2026 administrative election calendar, absentee voting and photo voter ID pages, and from Tuscaloosa County’s elections pages. This page is factual only; it does not endorse candidates or positions.

Alabama’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 19. In Tuscaloosa County the Probate Judge runs county, state and federal elections, the Board of Registrars handles voter registration and the Circuit Clerk runs absentee voting.

Who to call

  • Board of Registrars (registration): Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex, 2501 Seventh St., Suite 200, 205-464-8415, tuscaloosa@vote.alabama.gov
  • Circuit Clerk, absentee election manager: 714 Greensboro Ave., Suite 214, 205-464-8259
  • Probate Office (sample ballots, poll workers): 205-464-8201
  • Secretary of State Elections Division: 1-800-274-8683

Key dates for the Nov. 3 general election

From the Secretary of State’s 2026 calendar:

Date Deadline
Monday, Oct. 19 Last day to register to vote
Tuesday, Oct. 27 Absentee applications returned by mail must be received
Thursday, Oct. 29 Absentee applications returned by hand must be received
Monday, Nov. 2 Absentee ballots returned by hand due by close of business, no later than 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election Day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; mailed absentee ballots must arrive by noon

The Secretary of State posts the 2026 general election sample ballots.

Registering to vote

Register or update your address online through the Secretary of State, on the printable form mailed to the Board of Registrars, or in person at the Courthouse Annex. The county also lists the main Tuscaloosa library and the license and tag offices among the places to pick up a form. Alabama does not register voters by political party. Once you are registered, the board mails you a voter card showing your polling place and districts; you do not need to bring it to vote.

Photo ID

Alabama requires an approved photo ID at the polls. A voter without one can get a free Alabama photo voter ID. A voter with no valid ID can still vote if two election officials positively identify them.

Absentee voting and early voting

The state’s 2026 calendar sets no early voting period. Voters who meet one of Alabama’s absentee reasons, such as being away from the county on Election Day, can vote absentee. The Circuit Clerk, Magaria Bobo, is the county’s absentee election manager. Get the Tuscaloosa County absentee application, include a copy of your photo ID and return it by the deadlines above. Return the ballot in person, by mail or by commercial carrier, one ballot to an envelope. Track it on the state’s ballot tracker.

Polling places in Tuscaloosa

Find your own polling place on the Secretary of State’s voter lookup or the county’s ward map. Polling places inside the city include:

  • Ward 15: Mary Phelps Center, 2200 Rock Quarry Drive
  • Ward 23: Church of the Highlands, 721 Rice Mine Road NE
  • Ward 26: Alberta Baptist Church, 2210 University Blvd. East
  • Ward 27: University of Alabama Student Recreation Center, 401 Fifth Ave. East
  • Ward 28: Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex, 2501 Seventh St.
  • Ward 36: Stillman College, Wynn Center, 3601 Stillman Blvd.
  • Ward 37: McDonald Hughes Community Center, 3101 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
  • Ward 39: Forest Lake Methodist Church, 1711 Fourth Ave.
  • Ward 40: University Mall, 1701 McFarland Blvd. East
  • Ward 41: McAbee Center, 3801 Loop Road
  • Ward 44: Belk Activity Center, 2101 Bowers Park Drive
  • Ward 47: Bobby Miller Activity Center, 300 Bobby Miller Parkway

The county’s full list has all 54 wards.

City Council District 5 special election

The City of Tuscaloosa runs its own elections. After the death of Council President Kip Tyner, the City Council called a special election for District 5 on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Alberta Baptist Church, 2210 University Blvd. East. Candidates qualify through Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m. Absentee voting opens Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, 2201 University Blvd.; Thursday, Dec. 3, is the last day to apply for a regular absentee ballot. Forms are on the city’s elections site.

Results

County results are posted on the county’s election results page. Results are unofficial until the canvassing board certifies them.

More guides: who to call at City Hall, public notices and moving to Tuscaloosa.

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline to register to vote in Alabama for the Nov. 3, 2026, election?

Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s 2026 election calendar. Register online through the Secretary of State or with the Tuscaloosa County Board of Registrars, 205-464-8415.

What time do the polls open in Tuscaloosa County?

Alabama polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone who joins the line after 7 p.m. may not vote, the state’s voter guide says.

Does Alabama have early voting?

The state’s 2026 election calendar sets no early voting period. Voters who qualify can vote absentee through the Circuit Clerk, the county’s absentee election manager, at 205-464-8259.

Where do I vote in Tuscaloosa?

Your polling place is printed on your voter card and listed in the Secretary of State’s voter lookup. The county posts every polling place by ward; city council special elections can use different locations.

Do I need an ID to vote in Alabama?

Yes. Alabama requires an approved photo ID at the polls. A voter without one can get a free Alabama photo voter ID, and a voter positively identified by two election officials can still vote.