Latest News

Order on Annexation of the Indian Ford Fire District into the City of Helena

Order on Annexation – September 22, 2023 (PDF)

2023 CSC Nomination Results – September 19, 2023

2023 CSC Nomination Results (PDF)

Poll Worker Pay Increase

The State of Alabama partially reimburses Jefferson County for compensation paid to poll workers. The Jefferson County poll worker rate of pay has been incrementally higher than that which the State of Alabama pays; which means Jefferson County pays the difference. The State recently passed Act 2023-517, which increases the supplemental compensation they pay to poll workers and inspectors by $50. This brought the State’s rate of pay equal to that which Jefferson County already pays. At our request, the Jefferson County Commission has approved to increase the total compensation to be received by poll workers and inspectors, so that you benefit from the increase in pay from the State.

It is our pleasure to inform you that, as of September 1, 2023, the amount of compensation received by Jefferson County election workers increased to $200 for poll workers (asst. chiefs and clerks) and $250 for inspectors (chiefs). Please note, this pay includes the State required training for each primary and general election, regardless of your years of experience and previous training attendance. We appreciate your willingness and dedication to be a part of our team, that conducts fair, honest, and impartial elections.

Poll Worker Pay Increase Signed Letter (PDF)

Pursuant to the provisions of Title 17, Chapter 9, Section 5 of the Code of Alabama 1975, notice is hereby given that a Statewide Primary Election will be held at polling places on in Jefferson County, Alabama on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. If a Primary Run-off is necessary, it will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. The Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on those dates. A public test of voting machines will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2022, and if necessary, Thursday, June 9, 2022, at the Jefferson County Operations Center located at 520 Medco Road, Birmingham, AL 35217.

The above elections on said dates have more than one candidate who has qualified and elections will be held for the following offices:

Governor
United States Senator
United States Representative – District 7
Attorney General
State Senator – Districts 15,17, 19, & 20
State Representative – Districts 14, 15, 17, 45, 47, 48, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, & 60
Supreme Court Justice – Place 5
Secretary of State
State Auditor
Public Service Commissioner – Places 1 and 2
Circuit Court Judge – Places 12,14, 16, 20, 21, & 23
District Attorney (Bessemer Division)
District Court Judge – Place 10
Jefferson County Sherriff
Jefferson County Commissioner – District 2
Jefferson County Board of Education – Places 3 and 5 Executive Committees (State and County)

Legal Notice – May 4, 2022

Legal Notice of Poll Workers (PDF)

Schools and Trainings of Instructions will be held at the following locations, dates, and times:

Poll Worker Trainings – Jefferson County Operations Warehouse:

Monday, May 16, 2022 – 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 – 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 – 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Poll Worker Trainings – Birmingham Jury Assembly:

Monday, May 16, 2022 – 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 – 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Poll Worker Trainings – Bessemer Jury Assembly:

Wednesday, May 18, 2022 – 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Poll Worker Schools – Jefferson County Operations Warehouse

Thursday, May 19, 2022 – 2:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.

Free Alabama Photo Voter ID Card – April 24, 2021

Join us at the following location:

Date: April 24, 2021
Location:
Piggly Wiggly
2500 29th Ave. N.
Birmingham, AL 35207
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Voter registration forms will be available to register to vote and update voter information.

Event Flyer (PDF)

General Election – Nov. 3 2020

Official Canvass Report
Official Precinct Report
Official Summary Report

Absentee Voting Update – Oct. 16, 2020

Following a vote of the Jefferson County Commission today, the Jefferson County Courthouses in downtown Birmingham and Bessemer will be open for the Jefferson County Absentee Election Managers to facilitate in-person absentee voting on Saturday, October 17, 2020 and Saturday, October 24, 2020 between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. The Birmingham Division Absentee Election Manager is located on the Fifth Floor of the Main Courthouse in downtown Birmingham. The Bessemer Division Absentee Election Manager is located in the basement of the Bessemer Courthouse.

The Birmingham Division Absentee Election Manager cannot process applications or ballots for voters residing in the Bessemer Division, nor can the Bessemer Absentee Election Manager process applications or ballots for voters residing in the Birmingham Division. Voters who reside in the Bessemer Division must send absentee applications and return ballots to the Bessemer Courthouse; likewise, voters who reside in the Birmingham Division must send absentee applications to the Main Courthouse in downtown Birmingham, and return ballots by mail or in person there.

If Voting Absentee

If you reside in the district of Birmingham and are planning on voting absentee, you will need to vote absentee in Birmingham:

716 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Suite 500
Birmingham AL 35203
Phone: 205-325-5313

If you live in the Bessemer cut-off and are planning on voting absentee, you will need to vote absentee in Bessemer:

1851 2nd Ave
Bessemer, AL 35020
Phone: 205-497-8513

*If you are not sure where your residence is located, please contact the Board of Registrars at 205-325-5550.

Sample Ballots

To view the most recent sample ballots, please go to our Sample Ballots page.

Questions Regarding In-Person Absentee Voting

See the answers to more commonly asked questions

What is “In Person Absentee” voting?
In Person Absentee voting refers to a person who visits the Absentee Election Manager’s office in Birmingham (5th Floor of the Jefferson County Courthouse) or Bessemer (Basement of the Jefferson County Courthouse Annex-Bessemer)and completes the entire process of applying for, obtaining and voting his or her absentee ballot during that visit.

Can I vote “In Person Absentee” if I am concerned about COVID-19 exposure on November 3 but would otherwise be able to vote at my regular precinct?
Yes. The Alabama Secretary of State, John Merrill, has issued an emergency rule that provides that a person who is concerned about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may select “I have a physical illness or infirmity which prevents my attendance at the polls.” as his or her reason for voting absentee. Note that ID is required to do so.

If I vote “In Person Absentee,” is my vote counted immediately?
No. Your absentee ballot is kept in its sealed secrecy envelope, just as if it was mailed in, until November 3, 2020. Absentee ballots are not processed until the polls close at 7:00 pm on November 3, 2020.

What is the last day to vote “In Person Absentee” for the 2020 General Election?
By law, Thursday, October 29, 2020, is the last day that a person may apply for an absentee ballot for the 2020 General Election. This means that October 29 is also the last day that a person may vote “In Person Absentee,” which, as noted above, is the common term for a person who visits the Absentee Election Manager’s office in Birmingham or Bessemer and completes the entire process of applying for, obtaining and voting his or her absentee ballot during that visit. Please note that a person who has applied for and received an absentee ballot may hand-deliver it to the Birmingham or Bessemer Absentee Elections Manager, as appropriate, on October 30 or November 2, but no one may initiate the process of requesting an absentee ballot after October 29. Please note also that you must mail or hand-deliver your absentee ballot to the correct division (Birmingham or Bessemer), as these are not interchangeable.

Secretary of States Issues Emergency Rule for General Election Absentee Voting During COVID-19 Pandemic

Emergency Administrative Rule (PDF)

July 14 Primary Runoff Voting and Mask Guidance

For the July 14 primary run-off election, Alabama Secretary of State Merrill and Attorney General Marshall have issued guidance to county election officials stating unequivocally that under the Alabama Constitution no voter may be required to wear a mask or comply with other COVID-19 related safety measures as a condition to entering a polling place and exercising the right to vote.

The Jefferson County Elections Commission is also mindful that since June 29, our county has been under a mandatory mask ordinance. With the support of the Jefferson County Commission, the JCEC has taken extraordinary measures to sanitize voting precincts and to provide PPE to our poll workers. While we strongly encourage all voters to take appropriate precautions—including wearing a covering over the nose and mouth and practicing physical distancing—in order to protect our volunteer poll workers, watchers and others voters in the spirit of mutual respect and care, no voter will be required to wear a mask in order to vote.

With respect to how this may impact any particular polling location out of the nearly 170 being used on Tuesday, we ask all voters to please be patient and accommodating as our poll workers and election officials work to ensure that every voter who wishes to do so may vote.

Primary Runoff Elections

Primary Runoff Election – July 14, 2020:

The last day to register to vote is Monday, June 29, 2020. [17-3-50(a)] Code of Alabama 1975

Campaign Finance Reports

Per Section 17-5-9 (e) in The Code of Alabama 1975, “Commencing with the 2018 election cycle, all principal campaign committees and political action committees that file with the judge of probate, other than candidates for municipal office, shall file electronically with the Secretary of State pursuant to this chapter.”

Write-In Votes

The Alabama Legislature passed Act 2016-450 relating to counting write-in votes, in the August, 2016 Special Session. Beginning with the General Election on November 8, 2016, write-in votes will NOT be counted on election night. Rather, if the election night (unofficial) vote total for a particular race reflects that the vote differential is LESS than the number of write-in votes cast, then, in that event, write-ins for that particular race will be counted during the week following the Tuesday election, and will be addressed at the meeting for tabulating provisional ballots cast. (Note: Election results are NOT official until provisional ballots have been counted, Write-In Votes, if applicable, have been addressed, and the election results have been canvassed).

Candidate Qualifying

If you are interested in becoming a candidate in 2019 for a local office in Jefferson County, the qualifying periods are:

Jefferson County Democratic Party: September 27, 2019 – November 8, 2019
Jefferson County Republican Party: October 8, 2019 – November 8, 2019

If you are interested in becoming a candidate in 2019 for a state-wide office in Alabama, the qualifying periods are:

Alabama Democratic Party: September 27, 2019 – November 8, 2019
Alabama Republican Party: October 8, 2019 – November 8, 2019

State qualifying is with the state party office and local qualifying (Jefferson County) is with the county chairperson for each political party.

Declaration of candidacy must be filed with the county party chairman no later than 5:00 PM on November 8, 2019.
§17-13-5(a) Code of Alabama 1975

Fair Ballot Commission Statement

Act 2014-399, known as the Alabama Informed Voter Act, created the Fair Ballot Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to provide to the public a fair and accurate explanation of what a vote for and what a vote against a statewide measure represents.

PRECINCT CHANGES

View 2018 Birmingham precinct changes.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE

The voter registration deadline is 14 days before the election.

The Alabama legislature enacted Senate Bill 235 in April 2014, amending Sections 17-3-50 and 17-4-2 Code of Alabama 1975.

Presidential Preference & Alabama Statewide Primary Election – March 3, 2020:

The last day to register to vote is Monday, February 17, 2020. [17-3-50(a)] Code of Alabama 1975

Primary Runoff Election – July 14, 2020:

The last day to register to vote is Monday, June 29, 2020. [17-3-50(a)] Code of Alabama 1975

General and Constitutional Amendment Election – November 3, 2020:

The last day to register to vote is Monday, October 19, 2020. [17-3-50(a)] Code of Alabama 1975

NEW ELECTION EQUIPMENT PURCHASED

Jefferson County has purchased new Electronic Poll Books (Poll Pads), and they will be launched Countywide in the Statewide Primary Election on June 5, 2018.

For many years past, Jefferson County has used a paper roster for voter check-in. This new system has been proven to decrease voters’ wait time on Election Day and simplify the check-in process. The new state of the art Poll Pads will be used for many years to come.

VOTER ADDRESS CHANGE EFFECTIVE APRIL 18, 2014

The Alabama Supreme Court issued an Opinion (Davis v. Bennett, 1111629) on April 18, 2014 regarding a Voter’s change of address.

As a voter is showing their Photo ID, the Poll Worker will look up the voter information and ask, “Is this your current address?”

If the answer is “NO”, the voter will be given the proper precinct name so they can travel to their proper precinct. At their new precinct, the voter will need to complete a Voter Update form, and vote a provisional ballot.

It is suggested that voters update their information upon moving instead of waiting until Election Day. The Voter will need to do so prior to 14 days before an election.

Voter Update Forms are available from the Jefferson County Registrar, Barry Stephenson, 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 410-A, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 Telephone: (205) 325-5550, or from Jefferson County Probate Court in Birmingham, 716 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. N., Room 120, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 Telephone: (205) 254-7387, or from Bessemer Probate, 1851 2^nd Ave. N., Bessemer, Alabama 35020, Telephone: (205) 481-4100, or on-line at www.jeffcoelectionsal.com, click on VOTERS, and then on Register To Vote (the Form can also be used to update an address), print it, fill it in and mail to the Registrar (The mailing address for Jefferson County is on the form).

In This Section