Alabama voters head to the polls Tuesday, May 19, 2026, for the state’s primary election, with voting open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Anyone in line by 7 p.m. is legally allowed to cast a ballot.
The governor’s race is on the statewide ballot, and the contest for the Senate seat currently held by Tuberville features one of the most crowded Republican fields in Alabama this year. Contested races are also on the ballot for Public Service Commission Place 1 and Place 2.
Alabama uses an open primary system, so voters do not register by party and may choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot on Election Day. But they can vote in only one party’s primary, and if a runoff becomes necessary, they must stay with the same party they selected in the primary unless they did not participate in either party primary.
The primary determines each party’s nominees for November’s general election, and in Alabama many races could effectively be decided on Tuesday. Candidates must receive more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff; if no one reaches that threshold, the top two candidates advance to another round.
That means the first test is not just who leads, but who can clear a majority in a state where crowded fields can split the vote. For voters, the decision today is straightforward. For candidates, the deadline is sharper: win outright, or come back for a runoff.
