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Note: This article is not intended to serve as a guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact theirstate election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Alabama, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines.These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Alabama. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates,click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contactstate election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

Seestate election laws

Year-specific filing information

2026

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2026 U.S. Congress elections andAlabama elections, 2026

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Alabama in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, clickhere.

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Alabama in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, clickhere.

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Alabama in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, clickhere.

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Alabama House of Representatives candidates in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, clickhere.

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Alabama State Senate candidates in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, clickhere.

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Process to become a candidate

A 2024 ballot access petition for independent candidates in Alabama.

See statutes:Title 17 of the Code of Alabama

There are four methods by which a candidate can gain ballot access: with an officially recognized political party, with a minor party seeking political party status, as an independent, or as a write-in. Every candidate for state-level office must submit a statement of economic interests when he or she first files for office. Within five days of filing this document, every candidate must organize a campaign finance committee and file an appointment of principal campaign committee form with theAlabama Secretary of State. Only the candidates of officially recognized political parties can participate in the state primary election. All other candidates run in the general election.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Political party candidates

All candidates seeking a party nomination for a non-county office (such as a federal, state, or state legislative office) must file a declaration of candidacy with the state party chair by 5:00 p.m. 116 days before the date of the primary. The state party chair must then certify the names of primary election candidates with theAlabama Secretary of State no later than 5 p.m. 82 days before the primary election. Candidates seeking a party nomination for a county office must file a declaration with the county party chair no later than 5:00 p.m. 116 days before the primary.^[11][12][13]

A party candidate must pay a party filing fee. These fees are established by the parties.^[14]

Minor party candidates

A minor party candidate is nominated at party meetings or conventions. Such meetings must be held before the primary election. The minor party must file certificates of nomination for each nominated candidate seeking a state or federal office with theAlabama Secretary of State. For county candidates, the certificate of nomination must be filed with the local Judge of Probate. These certificates are due on the day of the primary election.^[15][16][17]

Independent candidates

An independent candidate must file a petition with theAlabama Secretary of State. The petition must contain the signatures of registered voters equal to at least 3 percent of the total vote cast forgovernor in the applicable electoral district in the last general election.^[18][17]

This petition must be filed by 5 p.m. on the day of the primary election. A candidate cannot run as an independent if he or she ran in the primary election in the same year.^[17][18]

Write-in candidates

There are no filing requirements for write-in candidates in Alabama.^[19]

Petition requirements

See also:Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

In some cases, political parties and/or candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain ballot access. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining topetitions andcirculators inAlabama.

Format requirements

InAlabama, both the process to establish a new political party and the process to become an independent candidate require petitions. All petitions must include a statement explaining the reason for collecting signatures. For an independent candidate, that statement must indicate the name of the candidate, the date of the general election, the type of election (general or special), and the office being sought.^{[20][21][22][23]}

Signature requirements

Petitions must have numbered pages and space for a signer to include his or her name, residential address, county and city of residence, voting place, and date of birth. That additional information is not required, however. A signature will be deemed valid as long there is sufficient information to determine its validity.^[22]

All petition signatures must be gathered in person, but the code does not specify requirements for petition circulators.^[24]

Contact information

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also:State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Alabama can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Alabama County Boards of Registrars

Click here for a list

Alabama Secretary of State, Elections Division

Physical Address: 600 Dexter Ave, Suite E-206

Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3008

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5616

Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5616

Phone: 334-242-7210

Toll free: 1-800-274-8683

Fax: 334-242-2444

Website:https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes

Alabama Ethics Commission

Physical Address: 100 North Union Street, Suite 104

Montgomery, Alabama 36104

Mailing address: P.O. Box 4840

Montgomery, Alabama 36103-4840

Phone: 334-242-2997

Fax: 334-242-0248

Email:info@ethics.alabama.gov

Website:https://ethics.alabama.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email:clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website:https://www.eac.gov

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Do you need information about elections inyour area? Are you looking foryour local election official?Click here to visit theU.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

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Term limits

Alabama state executives have term limits. These limits were established byAmendment 282 toSection 116 of Article V of theAlabama Constitution.

State executives

See also:State executives with term limits andStates with gubernatorial term limits

The state executives with term limits inAlabama are as follows:^[25]

• Thegovernor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• Thelieutenant governor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• Thesecretary of state may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• Theattorney general may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• Thestate treasurer may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• Thecommissioner of agriculture and industries may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

State legislators

See also:State legislatures with term limits

There are no term limits placed on Alabama state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

See also:List of United States Representatives from Alabama andList of United States Senators from Alabama

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation fromAlabama.

State legislative partisanship

Below is the current partisan breakdown of members of the state legislature ofAlabama.

Alabama State Senate

Alabama House of Representatives

Related legislation

The table below lists bills related to ballot access requirements for candidates that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Alabama. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official bill name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Sponsor party
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page onBallotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

The Ballot Bulletin

TheBallot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from ourElection Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Recent issues

Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.

• The Ballot Bulletin: November 21, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: November 14, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: November 7, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: October 31, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: October 24, 2025

Subscribe

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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Alabama
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in Alabama
• Alabama elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in Alabama
• Counties in Alabama
• List of United States Representatives from Alabama
• List of United States Senators from Alabama
• Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
• State executives with term limits
• States with gubernatorial term limits
• State legislatures with term limits

External links

Official state and federal links

• Alabama Secretary of State, Elections Division
• Alabama Ethics Commission
• Federal Election Commission
• Alabama Secretary of State, "Fair Campaign Practices Act: Candidate Filing Guide 2024"

Other information

• Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
• ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
• National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives

Footnotes

v • e Election policy Election legislation Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker •Ballotpedia's The Ballot Bulletin •Election legislation tracking: list of sub-topics •Absentee/mail-in voting •Early voting •Election dates and deadlines •Election Day voting •Ranked-choice voting •Redistricting •Voter registration Election administration Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •Washington, D.C. •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Voting policy Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Electoral systems policy Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Primary elections policy Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Redistricting policy Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Recount laws Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Ballot access for political candidates Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Ballot access for presidential candidates Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Ballot access for political parties Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Electoral systems Single-winner system •Multi-winner system •Block voting system •Plurality voting system •Majority voting system •Top-two primary •Blanket primary •Open primary •Closed primary •Semi-closed primary •Top-four primary •Ranked-choice voting (RCV) •STAR voting •Approval voting •Fusion voting