League of Women Voters of Alabama
The LWVAL is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights, build grassroots power in our communities, drive policy change on the challenges facing Alabama and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy.
The 2026 Alabama Legislative Session Begins January 13
(and the 2026 elections are right around the corner…)
The Alabama Legislature will begin its next Regular Session on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. This session is in the final year of the legislators’ four-year term. All Alabama legislative lawmakers are up for election in November 2026.
The legislation sessions are limited to 30 days within 105 calendar days. During the session, Alabama lawmakers typically meet 2 days a week (Tuesday and Wednesday), with the other weekdays devoted to committee meetings and district work.
During the 2025 session, the LWVAL piloted a new League communication for voter engagement called Take Action Tuesdays. These ‘weekly on Tuesday’ emails presented League members and friends with simple actions that were relevant to bills being discussed or voted on that week.
The 'Take Action Tuesday' communications were well-received primarily because they provided citizens with all the information needed to perform simple quick actions in support of (or opposing) legislation they cared about.
Even though the session doesn’t open until January 13, there are already actions being taken by legislators. Bills are currently being pre-filed. A pre-filed bill is legislation that is submitted by a legislator before the actual start of the session, allowing the bill to be ready for review by the appropriate committee at the start of the session.
Bottom line, there is much to pay attention to now, ahead of the actual start to the session.
What can people do to get ready for the 2026 legislative session?
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Review Senate Document No 3, which explains the Alabama Legislative process.
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Take a look at the prefiled bills ahead of the session start.
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Be sure you are signed up for Take Action Tuesdays and other League communications.
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Get familiar with The Alabama Channel so that you can watch legislative sessions and committee meetings throughout the session.
What should people be thinking about related to 2026 elections?
Alabama party primaries are May 19, 2026. Candidates are already announcing their intentions, but qualification periods do not begin until January.
Candidates planning to run in the either the Democrat or Republican 2026 primary must file with their party during the January 5-23 qualification period.
Individuals who wish to run as an independent candidate in a state or federal election must file a petition with the Secretary of State’s office. The ballot access petition must include the signatures of registered Alabama voters, the number of which is equal to at least 3% of the number of voters, in that district, who cast a ballot in the governor’s race in the last general election. The deadline for filing independent candidate petitions is 5 pm on primary election day, May 19, 2026.
Interested voters can review the Alabama 2026 Voter Guide or the Election Administration Calendar, both of which are already available on the Secretary of State’s website.
And… It’s never too early to check your registration or start work on your voter plan!
"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people. John Adams
LWVAL News and Upcoming Events
Virtual Event
Voter Services Skills Training - December 2025
December 15, 2025
The training will emphasize the importance of voter education and provide strategies for voter engagement and mobilization. Included: Review of online/paper registration; Split ticket voting; Voting Plans; Tips for researching ballot info; Vote411
Newsletter
The Voter - December 2025
The LWVAL Newsletter for League Happenings Statewide
Includes: The Rosa Parks Story, PBS and the Path Ahead, ACLU Training Event, Programs to Watch, Lagniappe
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Virtual Event
The Fight for the Ballot Box:
Voting Rights in the Deep South
6 pm, Tuesday November 18, 2025 via Zoom
Another collaborative event with the LWV of Georgia. In this section of our Good Trouble series, we're examining the modern fight for voting rights. Let's get into some good trouble and discuss the ongoing struggle for the soul of Southern democracy.
Watch
Voter Services Skills Training - November 2025
2 pm Monday November 10, 2025 via Zoom
The agenda for November's meeting:
1. Post Alabama Municipal Election Analysis
2. Guidance for voter registration of the unhoused
3. Highlights of the SoS Administrative Calendar for 2026
Newsletter
The VOTER - November 2025
The LWVAL Newsletter for League Happenings Statewide
Includes: Election Hero Day, Good Trouble Event, LWV Wins Case, Past President Receives Award, Unite & Rise 8.5, League Project Updates, New League Website Published
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Action Call
LWVAL Call to Action
November 7, 2025
(Still an OPEN Action) Take action and urge Alabama Public Television (APT) NOT to sever ties with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).