Brent, Alabama Public Records

Residents can register to vote in person at the Probate Office, by mail using the Alabama Voter Registration Application, or online through the Alabama Secretary of State's website at alabamainteractive.org/sos/voter_registration. Online registration requires an Alabama driver's license or non-driver ID issued by ALEA. The registration deadline is 15 days before any election. Alabama requires photo identification to vote, including Alabama driver's license, Alabama photo voter ID, U.S. Passport, government employee ID, student ID from an Alabama college, or U.S. Military ID. Free Alabama photo voter IDs are available from county registrars and mobile ID units. Municipal elections for the Town of Brent determine who serves as mayor and on the town council. The community operates under a mayor-council form of government with municipal elections typically held in August during municipal election years, though residents should confirm specific schedules and terms with Brent Town Hall (205-926-4633). The next municipal election cycle depends on current term expirations, with candidate qualifying typically occurring in the spring before the August election. Information about local candidates, ballot measures, and municipal election dates can be obtained from the Town Clerk at Brent Town Hall and from the Bibb County Probate Office. Residents find their assigned polling location using the Alabama Secretary of State's My Voter Poll Place lookup tool at myinfo.alabamavotes.gov, which requires entering name and date of birth, or by checking the county precinct list available from the Bibb County Probate Office. The town typically has one or two polling locations serving local residents, often including facilities such as the Brent Town Hall or local schools. In the November 2024 presidential election, Bibb County reported approximately 62-65% voter turnout among registered voters, with thousands of ballots cast countywide reflecting strong engagement typical of Alabama's rural counties in presidential cycles. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, voters here and across Bibb County will decide several significant races. Alabama will hold gubernatorial elections in 2026, as Governor Kay Ivey's current term expires; the governor's race will be a major statewide contest. All Alabama state constitutional offices will be on the ballot in 2026, including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, and Public Service Commission seats. Alabama's legislative districts, including the State Senate and State House of Representatives seats representing the area (currently part of Senate District 17 and House District 61), will be contested, with all 105 House seats and approximately half of the 35 Senate seats up for election. County-level offices on the 2026 ballot will include Bibb County Commission seats, the Bibb County Probate Judge, Sheriff, Revenue Commissioner, and potentially Board of Education members, depending on term schedules. No U.S. Senate seat from Alabama is scheduled for the 2026 cycle, as Alabama's senators are elected in presidential years. Public election records in Alabama include voter registration lists, which are public records available for purchase from county probate offices for political and election purposes under Alabama Code § 17-4-37. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are filed with the Alabama Secretary of State and the Alabama Ethics Commission and are searchable online at ethics.alabama.gov. Candidate qualifying information, including names, addresses, and offices sought, is public record maintained by the probate office for county offices and the Secretary of State for state offices. Precinct-level election results are public records compiled by the probate office and certified by the county canvassing board, with results published on the Alabama Secretary of State's election results website at sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/election-results. Absentee voting in Alabama is available to voters who meet specific criteria under Alabama Code § 17-11-3, including being out of the county or state on election day, illness or physical disability, working a required shift that prevents voting, election workers, students or military stationed outside the county, appointed poll watchers, and individuals over age 70. Absentee ballot applications are available from the Bibb County Probate Office or downloadable from alabamavotes.gov. Completed applications must be submitted to the probate office, which will mail ballots beginning 55 days before the election. Voted absentee ballots must be returned by mail (postmarked by election day and received within specified timeframes) or delivered in person to the probate office by the close of polls on election day. Alabama does not offer universal mail voting or no-excuse absentee voting; voters must meet statutory criteria to vote absentee.