Qualifying begins Monday for 2026 elections
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
The 2026 election cycle is already getting underway, with qualifying to begin Monday and the primary election just four months away.
The state executive committees for both the Alabama Democratic and Republican parties established and announced their candidate qualifying dates. Both will begin on Monday, January 5, with the Alabama Democratic Party having qualifying begin at 9 a.m. and the Alabama Republican Party starting at 8:30 a.m.
The last day for all party candidates to qualify is January 23, with qualifying ending at 5 p.m. This is established by the Code of Alabama, Section 17-13-5, rather than determined by each party.
Those wishing to qualify to run for office this year, aside from local offices, can qualify in person with the state party of their choice or online. For the Alabama Democratic Party, information regarding qualifying will be posted to the website on Monday, and individuals may qualify online at aldemocrats.org or in person.
For the Alabama Republican Party, candidates may complete qualifying online at algop.org/2026-candidate-qualifying or in person at the Alabama Republican Party Headquarters, located at 3505 Lorna Road in Hoover.
County-level offices do not qualify through the state parties. Instead, candidates seeking those positions should qualify with their local county party organization. For more information, contact the local Democratic or Republican Party or the Coosa County Probate Office at 256-377-4919, option 4.
Following this month’s candidate qualifying period, Alabama’s 2026 primary election will be held May 19, with the primary runoff election to be held June 16, if necessary. The general election will be held November 3.
While there are numerous state offices on the ballot this year, there are no district or circuit positions to be on the 2026 ballot. However, there are many county-level offices up for election this year.
Local offices included in the 2026 election cycle are the sheriff; revenue commissioner; all five County Commission seats; Board of Education, District 1; Board of Education, District 3; Board of Education, District 4; and coroner.
The office of revenue commissioner and all Board of Education positions are elected to 6-year terms. The other local offices are elected to 4-year terms.
Federal offices to be included on the 2026 ballot are U.S. senator and seven seats on the U.S. House of Representatives.
State offices that will be on the ballot are governor; lieutenant governor; secretary of state; state treasurer; state auditor; commissioner of agriculture and industries; state senator; state representative; Alabama Board of Education districts 2, 4, 6, and 8; Court of Criminal Appeals judges, Place 4 and 5; Court of Civil Appeals judges, Place 4 and 5; Public Service Commission, Place 1 and 2.
While Coosa County’s are not up for election this year, various seats for Circuit Court judges and District Court judges across the state will also be on some ballots.
The deadline to register to vote for the primary election in May is May 4. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot to mail is May 12, and the last day to apply for an absentee ballot in person is May 14.
May 18 is the last day to deliver an absentee ballot by hand, and absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by 12 p.m. on May 19.
For November’s general election, the last day to register to vote or update voter registration is October 19.
For more information on the upcoming elections or to check voter registration information, visit www.alabamavotes.gov or contact the Coosa County Board of Registrars at 256-377-2418.
“The Coosa County News” will report a list of all local qualified candidates once qualifying ends later this month, as well as continue to report election information throughout the 2026 election cycle.
