Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Alabama

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state 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, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Alabama." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

DocumentIcon.jpg See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

U.S. Senate

For information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, click here.

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Alabama in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Alabama U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A Fixed by party 11/10/2023 Source
Alabama U.S. House Unaffiliated 3% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election N/A 3/5/2024 Source


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

Show more

2022

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Alabama in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Alabama U.S. Senate Ballot-qualified party N/A Fixed by party 1/28/2022 Source
Alabama U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 51,588 N/A 5/24/2022 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Alabama in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Alabama U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A Fixed by party 2/11/2022 Source
Alabama U.S. House Unaffiliated 3% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election N/A 5/24/2022 Source

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Alabama in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Alabama Governor Ballot-qualified party N/A Fixed by party 1/28/2022 Source
Alabama Governor Unaffiliated 51,588 N/A 5/24/2022 Source

2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Alabama in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Alabama U.S. Senate Democratic N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of annual salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama U.S. Senate Republican N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of annual salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 51,588 3% of votes cast for governor in the last election N/A N/A 3/3/2020 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Alabama in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Alabama 1st Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 1st Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 1st Congressional District Unaffiliated 7,310 3% of qualified electors who voted for governor in the last general election N/A N/A 3/3/2020 Source
Alabama 2nd Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 2nd Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 2nd Congressional District Unaffiliated 6,818 3% of qualified electors who voted for governor in the last general election N/A N/A 3/3/2020 Source
Alabama 3rd Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 3rd Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 3rd Congressional District Unaffiliated 6,977 3% of qualified electors who voted for governor in the last general election N/A N/A 3/3/2020 Source
Alabama 4th Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 4th Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 4th Congressional District Unaffiliated 6,998 3% of qualified electors who voted for governor in the last general election N/A N/A 3/3/2020 Source
Alabama 5th Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 5th Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 5th Congressional District Unaffiliated 7,845 3% of qualified electors who voted for governor in the last general election N/A N/A 3/3/2020 Source
Alabama 6th Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 6th Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 6th Congressional District Unaffiliated 8,434 3% of qualified electors who voted for governor in the last general election N/A N/A 3/3/2020 Source
Alabama 7th Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 7th Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $3,480.00 2% of base salary 11/8/2019 Source
Alabama 7th Congressional District Unaffiliated 7,208 3% of qualified electors who voted for governor in the last general election N/A N/A 3/3/2020 Source

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Alabama elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

February 9, 2018

2016

See also: Alabama elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important filing deadlines for political candidates in Alabama in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
November 6, 2015 Ballot access Filing deadline for party candidates
February 2, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file the January monthly report
February 8, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the primary election
February 16, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the primary election
February 22, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the primary election
February 22, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
February 23, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
February 24, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
February 25, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
February 26, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
February 27, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
February 28, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
February 29, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the primary election
February 29, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
March 1, 2016 Election date Primary election
March 1, 2016 Ballot access Filing deadline for independent candidates
March 1, 2016 Ballot access Petition deadline for new political parties
March 2, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file the February monthly report; only for candidates not participating in the primary election
March 21, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the primary runoff election
March 28, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the primary runoff election
April 4, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file the March monthly report; only for candidates not participating in primary runoff election
April 4, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the primary runoff election
April 4, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
April 5, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
April 6, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
April 7, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
April 8, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
April 9, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
April 10, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
April 11, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the primary runoff election
April 11, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
April 12, 2016 Election date Primary runoff election
May 3, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file the April monthly report
June 2, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file the May monthly report
July 5, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file the June monthly report
August 2, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file the July monthly report
September 2, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file the August monthly report
October 4, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file the September monthly report
October 17, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the general election
October 24, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the general election
October 31, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the general election
October 31, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
November 1, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
November 2, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
November 3, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
November 4, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
November 5, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
November 6, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
November 7, 2016 Campaign finance Daily report due
November 7, 2016 Campaign finance Deadline to file weekly report for the general election
November 8, 2016 Election date General election
January 31, 2017 Campaign finance Annual report due
Sources: Alabama Secretary of State, "FCPA Filing Calendar - 2016 Election Cycle," accessed June 30, 2015
Alabama Secretary of State, "Independent Candidate Ballot Access," accessed July 9, 2015
Alabama Secretary of State, "Minor Party/Third Party Ballot Access," accessed July 9, 2015

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

A 2014 ballot access petition for independent candidates in Alabama.

DocumentIcon.jpg 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 a principal campaign committee appointment form with the Alabama 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

A political party candidate must be nominated by the party at the state primary election. The candidate must file a declaration of candidacy with the state party chair 116 days before the primary election. The state party chair must then certify the names of primary election candidates with the Alabama Secretary of State no later than 5 p.m. 82 days before the primary election. A party candidate must pay a party filing fee. These fees are established by the parties.[11][12][13]

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 with the Alabama Secretary of State. These certificates are due on the day of the primary election.[14][15][16]

Independent candidates

An independent candidate must file a petition with the Alabama Secretary of State. The petition must contain the signatures of registered voters equal to at least 3 percent of the total vote cast for governor in the applicable electoral district in the last general election. For example, in the 2010 gubernatorial race, 1,486,182 votes were cast, meaning an independent candidate running for a statewide office would have had to collect 44,586 signatures in 2014.[17][16][18]

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.[16][17]

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 to petitions and circulators in Alabama.

Format requirements

In Alabama, 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, 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. There are no residency requirements for circulators.[24]

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Alabama Secretary of State, Elections Division

Physical address: 600 Dexter Ave, Suite E-208, Montgomery, Alabama 36130
Mailing address: P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5616
Telephone: 334-242-7210
Toll free: 1-800-274-8683
Fax: 334-242-2444
Website: http://www.sos.state.al.us/

Alabama Ethics Commission

Physical address: 100 North Union Street, Suite 104, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Mailing address: P.O. Box 4840, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-4840
Telephone: 334-242-2997
Fax: 334-242-0248
Email: info@ethics.alabama.gov
Website: http://ethics.alabama.gov/
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Term limits

Alabama state executives have term limits. These limits were established by Amendment 282 to Section 116 of Article V of the Alabama Constitution.

State executives

State Executive Officials
See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

The state executives with term limits in Alabama are as follows:[25]

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

There are no term limits placed on Alabama state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

Portal:Legislative Branch
See also: List of United States Representatives from Alabama and List of United States Senators from Alabama

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Alabama.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Alabama
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 1 1
Republican 2 6 8
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 7 9

State legislative partisanship

Portal:State legislatures

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

Alabama State Senate

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 8
     Republican Party 26
     Other 0
     Vacancies 1
Total 35

Alabama House of Representatives

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 28
     Republican Party 75
     Other 0
     Vacancies 2
Total 105

Related legislation

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The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Alabama. The following information is included for each bill:

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

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.

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See also

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External links

Official state and federal links

Other information

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "2015 Election Information," accessed February 4, 2015
  2. ↑ Alabama Secretary of State Website, "2014 Scheduled Elections," accessed November 19, 2013
  3. ↑ AL.com, "Potential candidates face Feb. 7 qualifying deadline to run for office in 2014," January 2, 2014
  4. ↑ Ballotpedia phone call with Alabama's Secretary of State Elections Division, September 6, 2013
  5. ↑ Ballotpedia email with Alabama's Secretary of State Elections Office on September 6, 2013
  6. ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "FCPA Filing Calendar--2014 Election Cycle," accessed January 8, 2014
  7. ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-13-1," accessed January 7, 2014
  8. ↑ Candidate Filing Guide, "Chapter 1, Getting Started," accessed October 30, 2013
  9. ↑ Code of Alabama 1975, "Title 36, Chapter 25, Section 15," accessed October 30, 2013
  10. ↑ Code of Alabama 1975, "Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 4," accessed October 30, 2013
  11. ↑ Code of Alabama 1975, "Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 2," accessed October 30, 2013
  12. ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-13-5," accessed January 7, 2014
  13. ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-13-103," accessed January 7, 2014
  14. ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Minor Party/Third Party Ballot Access," accessed January 7, 2014
  15. ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-13-50," accessed January 7, 2014
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Alabama Code, "Section 17-9-3," accessed January 7, 2014
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Alabama Secretary of State, "Independent Candidate Ballot Access," accessed January 7, 2014
  18. ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Primary/Primary Run-off/General Election Statistics-State of Alabama," accessed January 9, 2014
  19. ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-6-28," accessed January 7, 2014
  20. ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Minor Party/Third Party Ballot Access," accessed January 7, 2014
  21. ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-6-22," accessed January 7, 2014
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Alabama Secretary of State, "Independent Candidate Ballot Access," accessed January 7, 2014
  23. ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-9-3," accessed January 7, 2014
  24. ↑ National Voter Outreach, "Alabama: Independent Candidate Ballot Access (Statewide Office)," accessed January 9, 2014
  25. ↑ Alabama Constitution of 1901, "Amendment 282 (to Section 116), accessed November 4, 2013
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