Alabama scrambles to prepare for special primary election: How to find out which district you are in

Election officials across Alabama are in a race against the clock as they work to finalize voter reassignments ahead of the August 11 special primary. Following a June 2 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for a new congressional map, officials must ensure all voters are correctly placed in their respective districts.

The Path to August 11

Secretary of State Wes Allen’s office reports that most of the 14 impacted counties have successfully reassigned voters to their new districts. However, two of the state's largest hubs—Jefferson and Mobile counties—are still working to finish the process. These counties face a strict June 17 deadline, which coincides with the start of absentee voting, as mandated by state law 55 days before the primary.

This special primary election will determine party nominees for congressional districts 1, 2, 6, and 7. Because these seats are being contested under a new map approved by the state Legislature in 2023, the results of the May 19 primary in these districts have been voided. There will be no runoff for this special election.

Navigating the Map Changes

The transition to the legislature’s 2023 map marks a significant shift from the court-drawn map used in the 2024 election cycle. While the court-drawn map previously favored Democrats in two districts, the state’s current configuration is designed to favor Republicans in six of the seven U.S. House districts.

The reassignment process involves 14 of the 40 counties that fall within the four affected districts. Jefferson, Covington, and Elmore counties are seeing the most significant adjustments. For instance, Mobile County has shifted entirely into District 1 under the new map, while other counties like Covington and Elmore are now split between districts.

How to Verify Your Status

State officials have acknowledged the tight timeline, with Jeff Elrod, the secretary of state's director of elections, emphasizing the need for local officials to work diligently to avoid errors. Despite these challenges, voters in counties that have completed the reassignment can verify their current district status through the online voter information tool provided on the Secretary of State’s website.

The ongoing legal battle stems from the Supreme Court decision that permitted the switch to the legislature's map following the April ruling in Louisiana vs. Callais. As Republicans look to regain the District 2 seat, U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures remains a focal point for Democrats; the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already identified the race as a priority to secure control of the U.S. House, as noted in recent coverage.