Voter turnout in Alabama continues to drop but Democratic counties saw surge
Alabama’s primary saw turnout slip again, driven largely by steep declines in several red counties, while many voters and candidates blamed a surge of negative political advertising.
Mason Reed 
James and Brenda Green experienced a surprisingly quiet trip to the Spanish Fort Community Center this past Tuesday. While the couple hoped to beat the rush, they found an empty polling station, a scene that played out across much of Alabama as primary election participation reached another low point.
Statewide Turnout Trends
The latest numbers from 205focus.com reveal that Alabama saw 23.11% of its 3.8 million registered voters—roughly 879,381 people—cast ballots. This marks a continued slide from the 23.4% turnout seen four years ago and contributes to a staggering 15-percentage-point decline in primary participation over the last two decades. Click here to view the statewide turnout map.
Mobile County Republican Sheriff Paul Burch, fresh off a primary victory, expressed frustration with the apathy. "To see such a low turnout consistently over the last election cycle is disappointing," Burch said. "This is our God-given right to get out and vote. Men and women have died for that right."
The Impact of Negative Campaigning
Political experts and candidates alike suggest that a surge in negative advertising from out-of-state and obscure PACs is actively driving voters away. Retired political science professor Jess Brown of Athens State University noted that while candidates rely on these "attack" ads because they appear to work in high-profile races, voters are increasingly exhausted by the tone of modern campaigns.
This sentiment resonated in several key legislative battles. Rep. Matt Simpson, Sen. Greg Albritton, and Rep. Phillip Pettus were all defeated following aggressive mailer campaigns from the Alabama Values PAC. Simpson, who lost his own race by just 157 votes, previously signaled his intent to sue the organization to push back against dark-money influence.
A Tale of Two Turnouts
While Alabama's reddest counties—including Baldwin, Cullman, Winston, Shelby, Marshall, and Morgan—saw noticeable drops in participation, Democratic strongholds trended in the opposite direction. Montgomery County saw turnout climb to 30.48%, and Jefferson County also improved, reaching 26.58%. As noted by the Jefferson County Board of Registrars, earlier predictions estimated turnout would land around 25%.
Black Belt counties also showed high levels of engagement, with many exceeding the statewide average. Shayla Mitchell, an organizer with Defend the Ballot, noted that improved mobilization and voter clarity regarding ballot initiatives helped drive those numbers up in traditional blue cities.
What Lies Ahead
The political calendar remains crowded. A special election is currently slated for August 11 for the newly drawn 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th districts, though this remains contingent on ongoing federal legal challenges. With the June 16 primary runoffs approaching, local party leaders like Mobile County Republican Party Chairman Ken Kvalheim emphasize that voter education will be the biggest challenge moving forward.
Meanwhile, major groups like the Alabama Farmers Federation continue to exert influence. Their FarmPAC saw significant success this cycle, winning or advancing 21 of their 25 endorsed candidates in the GOP primary. ALFA president Jimmy Parnell credited the success to a focus on shared work ethics and rural values.
