SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Tens of thousands of Alabama voters and thousands in Talladega County are reportedly flagged as “inactive” on state rolls ahead of this year’s elections, a designation that can appear for several reasons but does not automatically prevent someone from voting.
According to election officials, voters may be labeled inactive if election mail is returned as undeliverable, if they appear to have moved, or in some cases if they have not participated in recent elections. The status is part of Alabama’s voter list maintenance process required under state and federal law.
Before heading to the polls, voters are urged verify their registration status at the Secretary of State’s Official Election Center, especially if they have moved, changed mailing addresses or have not voted recently.
Being marked inactive does not necessarily mean a voter has been removed from the rolls. In many cases, inactive voters can still cast a regular ballot if they confirm their address or update their registration information at the polling place. State law also provides safeguards, including provisional ballots, when questions arise about eligibility.
Voters are also required to present a valid photo ID when voting in person.
There are 3,803,829 registered voters in Alabama.
