Alabama's Party Primaries Are One Month From Today

Primary election day is one month from today. However, more importantly for those who are not registered to vote, May 4th is the deadline to register.

" You can do it on your smartphone (at alabamavotes.gov) or go see your registrars at the county courthouse and walk in and fill out a paper application,” according to Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen.

Voting records at Allen's office reveal there are currently 3,790,643 registered Alabama voters in a state of 5.2 million (2206, Census Bureau estimate). Based on past voting that breaks down to 35% Democrats and 55% Republican. The exact number of persons who consider themselves part of a political party is not available because Alabama does not have official party registration.

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Alabama has one of the higher percentages of its eligible population registered to vote but signing up doesn't translate to voter turnout at the polls. The Yellowhammer State typically is well below the national voter turnout average and most often is dead last in voter turnout in the southeast. The hotly contested 2024 general election produced 2,269,116 voters. That is not a new phenomenon, it has been the case for decades according to state voter statistics.

Single party dominance has been a major contributor to voter apathy. The "Solid South" used to be in reference to how the Democratic Party controlled southern state legislatures and most local, state and federal officeholders in the South were Democrats. Winning the Democratic Primary was tantamount to winning in November. There were few Republican challengers.

That lack of competition in the "Jim Crow Era" has now been turned upside down. The "Solid South" has now become "Bright Red" meaning the GOP has replaced the Dems as the dominant party in Alabama and southern politics.

Alabama Democrats mounted a significant effort to fill their slate of candidates for this year's party primaries and they have mostly succeeded. But the likelihood of Democrats winning elections outside blue districts is remote.

Also contributing to voter apathy is the power of the incumbency. Alabama voters typically check the box by the current, well financed, office holder's name. That reduces the attraction for prospective challengers.

Democracy hinges on participation, and every vote has the potential to change the course of history. If you are registered to vote, check with your county's registrar to be sure your information is current.

“We maintain regular and robust voter file maintenance. We want to make sure that Alabama has the cleanest and most accurate voter file in the country,” Allen proclaimed. “So, if somebody’s moved, or whatever the case may be, make sure that if you’ve moved to go check at alabamavotes.gov and do an update form there.”

The key dates to remember this off-year election cycle are