Hoover, Alabama Public Records

Residents can register to vote online through the Alabama Secretary of State's website at https://www.alabamainteractive.org/sos/voter_registration, which accommodates new registrations and updates to existing ones. Registration must be completed at least 15 days before an election to be eligible to participate. Alabama requires valid photo identification to vote, including an Alabama driver's license, Alabama non-driver ID, U.S. Passport, government employee ID card, student or employee ID from an Alabama public college, or U.S. Military ID. Municipal elections in the city determine the mayor and city council positions. The government structure includes a mayor and seven council members, six elected from single-member districts and one at-large. Primary elections typically occur in August, with general elections following in November of election years. Both mayoral and council terms run four years. The next municipal elections are scheduled for 2024, when the mayor's office and all council seats may appear on the ballot depending on the election cycle. Candidates, sample ballots, and information about local ballot measures can be found at https://www.hooveral.org or by calling the City Clerk's office at 205-444-7500. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the Alabama Secretary of State's online polling place locator at https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview. Voters enter their name and date of birth to view registration status, polling location, sample ballot, and district information. Polling assignments are based on residence address and precinct boundaries. Under Alabama law, voter registration lists are public records open to inspection, and the Jefferson County Probate Court maintains these lists. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are filed with the Alabama Secretary of State and searchable online through the Campaign Finance Portal. Candidate qualifying information and precinct-level election results are public records available from the Probate Court and Secretary of State's office. Alabama will elect a Governor, as current Governor Kay Ivey's term expires (she will be term-limited if running again would exceed limits). Voters will also elect the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and other statewide constitutional offices. County offices including Jefferson County Commission seats, Circuit Court judges, District Court judges, and the Probate Judge may also be contested depending on term expirations. U.S. Senate seats for Alabama are not up in 2026 (next elections in 2026 and 2028 for the two seats). Alabama's congressional districts, including those covering the city, will elect U.S. Representatives. Alabama voters can request absentee ballots through the Alabama Absentee Ballot Application, available online at https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/absentee-voting. Applications must be submitted to the Jefferson County Absentee Election Manager at the Probate Court office. Alabama requires an excuse for absentee voting, including being out of the county on election day, illness or physical disability, working a required shift, being a student or spouse/dependent living outside the county, being a senior citizen (over 65), serving as an appointed election officer, having a felony conviction that has not been pardoned, being incarcerated but not convicted, or currently living outside the U.S. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the Thursday before the election for mail ballots, or voters can apply in person at the Absentee Election Manager's office up to the day before the election.