MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Secretary of State Wes Allen on Tuesday urged all Alabama voters to vote next week despite Gov. Kay Ivey announcing primaries for four of Alabama’s congressional districts will be delayed.
Allen held a press conference at the State Capitol to remind the public that the May 19 primary is still happening and all statewide races and ballot measures will be decided that day. Because of the special primary called by the governor, voters in Alabama’s 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th districts will return to the polls on Aug. 11 to cast their ballots in congressional races based on the updated map.
“Here’s what I want every Alabama voter to remember: go vote on May 19,” Allen said. “Votes for statewide constitutional offices, local races, state legislative and judicial races, as well as statewide constitutional amendments, will count on May 19.”
The only races affected by the special primary are congressional races in the four aforementioned districts. Voters in those districts will still cast their ballot for all other races next week.
The congressional races will still appear on the ballot in all districts, but the results for AL-1, AL-2, AL-6 and AL-7 will be void. The secretary of state’s website will still report the vote totals for those primaries.
The special primary will cost the state $4.45 million over fiscal years 2026 and 2027, according to a fiscal note from the Legislature.
Allen said he is confident that Alabama poll workers can handle the burden of facilitating another primary election.
“I have complete confidence in Alabama’s elections officials as we carry out both the regular 2026 election cycle and this special primary election,” Allen said. “I appreciate the hard work already done by all of those probate judges, all of those circuit clerks, absentee election managers, all those sheriffs, all those boards of registrars all around the state of Alabama, and I want to especially thank the team inside the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office.”
For more information about how and where to vote in your district, visit the secretary of state’s website.