Skip to main content

Alabama's Primaries

Partisan Primary Types​

Democratic PartyRepublican Party
Presidential PrimariesState PrimariesPresidential PrimariesState Primaries
open open open open

Presidential and State Primaries Scheduling​

Consolidated Primaries: yes

Alabama is one of the states that have merged their presidential and state primaries. On a Presidential Election year, Presidential Primaries and State Primaries are scheduled to run on the same days

The Alabama State and Presidential Primary elections process involves several key steps that determine the selection of candidates for various political offices. It's important for voters to stay informed about the specific dates, registration requirements, and any changes in the election process, as these details can vary from one election cycle to another. Here is a summary of the process:

Voting In Primaries​

  • To participate in the primary elections, voters must be registered. The deadline for voter registration is usually about a month before the primary election date. Eligible individuals can register through the state's voter registration system. Alabama has an open primary system, meaning that voters are not required to register with a specific party to participate in that party's primary. Voters can choose which party's primary they want to vote in on the day of the election. On the primary election day, voters go to their designated polling places and cast their votes for their preferred candidates. In the presidential primary, voters may be selecting both their preferred presidential candidate and delegates pledged to that candidate.

Primary Election Date​

  • Alabama typically holds its primary elections on the first Tuesday in March for both state and presidential primaries. However, it's essential to check for any changes in the election schedule as these dates can vary.

Presidential Primary Delegates​

For the presidential primary, political parties in Alabama allocate delegates to represent the state at the national party conventions. Voters in the presidential primary help determine the distribution of these delegates based on the candidates they support. The Republican Party in Alabama uses a winner-takes-all system, meaning that the candidate who receives the most votes in the presidential primary secures all of the state's delegates for the national convention. The Democratic Party uses a proportional allocation system, with delegates distributed based on the percentage of votes each candidate receives.

Democratic PartyRepublican Party
Total Del. VotesPled.Unpled.Altern.Total Del. VotesPled.Unpled.Altern.
59 52 7 4 50 50 47

Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process​

Democratic Party's Proprotional Delegates Allocation​

The Democratic Party in Alabama uses a proportional representation system based on the results of the Presidential Preference Election (Primary) for apportioning delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

In 2024, Alabama's Democratic party will send a total of 59 Delegate Votes and 4 Alternate Delegates to the DNC national convention. Of the 59 delegate votes, 52 Pledged Delegate Votes (34 District-level delegates, 11 At-Large, and 7 PLEOs) and 7 Automatic Delegate Votes. A mandatory 15 percent threshold is required in order for a presidential contender to be allocated National Convention delegates at either the congressional district or statewide level.

Delegates Breakdown​

  • District-level Delegates: 34
  • At-large Delegates: 11
  • Pledged PLEOs Delegates: 7
  • Automatic Delegates - Unpledged PLEOs: 7
  • Alternate Delegates: 4

Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown​

  • DNC Members: 6
  • Dem. Members of Congress: 1
  • Dem. Gorvernors: 0
  • Distinguished Party Leaders: 0

Republican Party Primary Delegates Process​

Republican Party Delegates Allocation​

Alabama's Republican Party use the Winner-takes-most system. The Republican party will send a total of 50 Delegate Votes and 47 Alternate Delegates to the 2024 RNC national convention. 50 Pledged Delegate Votes (21 District-level delegates, 26 At-Large, and 3 RNC delegates).

Delegates Breakdown​

  • District-level Delegates: 21
  • At-large Delegates: 26
  • RNC Delegates: 3
  • Alternate Delegates: 47

NOTES​

This page contains primary election rules and Presidential Primary delegates allocation information on elections occurring across the country

Primary voting rules and delegate allocation apply to statewide partisan primary elections in most cases. However, check with your Town Clerk for primary voting guide as they may vary by town and political party.Please be advised that the information provided on this site is updated regularly but is subject to scheduling changes at the local level.

The information provided on the page was validated using the following resourses: