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

With the August 11 special primary rapidly approaching, Alabama election officials are in a high-stakes race against the clock. Following a June 2 Supreme Court ruling that allowed the state to implement its 2023 legislative congressional map, boards of registrars and probate judges across the state are working to reassign voters to their correct districts.

The Road to August 11

Secretary of State Wes Allen’s office reports that most of the 14 counties impacted by the map changes have successfully finalized their voter reassignments. However, Jefferson and Mobile counties—two of the state's largest—remain in the process of completing these updates. According to Laney Rawls, communications director for the Secretary of State, these counties are expected to hit their marks by the June 17 deadline.

This deadline is critical, as state law requires absentee voting to begin 55 days prior to the election. By that date, counties must have fully established voter lists and confirmed absentee ballots. Additionally, federal regulations mandate that absentee ballots be issued to overseas and uniformed service voters no later than 45 days before election day.

Mapping the Changes

The current scramble stems from the shift to a map that favors Republicans in six of the seven U.S. House districts. This move voids the results of the May 19 primary, leaving voters in districts 1, 2, 6, and 7 to head back to the polls for a special primary that will feature no runoffs.

In total, 40 counties span these four districts, with 14 requiring specific reassignments due to boundary changes. While some counties could utilize mass-change features, the adjustments in major hubs like Jefferson, Covington, and Elmore require more complex, granular work. Jefferson County continues to be split between districts 6 and 7, while Mobile County is now situated entirely within District 1 under the new map.

How to Verify Your Status

As officials work to meet the challenging timeline, voters can take steps to ensure they are prepared. For those in counties where reassignments are complete, the online voter information tool provided on the Secretary of State’s website allows individuals to verify their current district.

This legislative map replaces the court-drawn map used during the 2024 election cycle, which had previously allowed for a different partisan distribution. As the state pivots, candidates like U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures are navigating the new landscape. Figures, who remains unopposed for the Democratic nomination, is a focal point for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has identified holding the District 2 seat as a major priority in their bid for House control.

For more details on the candidates and the upcoming special elections, visit our latest guide on the qualifications and races ahead.