Trends show high turnout in Alabama, but not as high as 2020

Multiple states across the country reported record-breaking voter turnout Tuesday as Americans cast their ballots in the 2024 general election. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson reported that her state was on track to break voter turnout records, while polling sites in Boston, MA reportedly ran out of ballots due to unexpectedly high turnout.

As of Tuesday evening, Alabama also appeared to have high, if limited, turnout. The Montgomery Advertiser reported that election officials in Autauga County were seeing “heavier-than-normal turnout through about 10 a.m.” However, 61.22 percent of the county’s registered voters ultimately cast ballots on Tuesday, less than the 64 percent turnout seen in the 2020 general election.

Bullock County also saw a slight decrease in turnout from 2020, dropping from 62.3 percent to 57.68 percent of eligible voters participating.  9,345 voters cast ballots in Henry County, resulting in 63.3 percent turnout compared to 66.6 percent in 2020.

Similarly, Marengo County saw voter participation decrease from 67 percent in 2020 to 61.76 percent on Tuesday while Russell County went from 50.21 percent to 44.51 percent according to the Secretary of State’s unofficial election results.

In Madison County, Probate Judge Frank Barger reported a surge of voters at the polls when they opened on Tuesday morning. According to Barger, 28 percent of registered voters in the county had cast their ballots by 11:30 a.m. However, Barger said that he expects the county’s turnout to ultimately land somewhere close to 65 percent, similar to the 2020 general election. As of writing, Madison County sits at 34.73 percent turnout with 68.75 percent of the county’s boxes reporting.

APR contacted Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen’s office Tuesday evening for more information about turnout across the state. Allen’s office said that they were “expecting high turnout” based on initial reports.

Historically, Alabama has low statewide voter turnout when compared to national averages. Alabama’s turnout is low even when compared to the rest of the South, a region which consistently has the lowest turnout in the nation.

Secretary of State Wes Allen has previously emphasized a focus on voter registration rates over turnout. “As Secretary of State, administering fair, secure, and transparent elections is a top priority, and I am proud that Alabama leads the nation in election integrity,” Allen told the Alabama Reflector in August. “In Alabama, we have an impressive voter registration rate of 97 percent. It is my duty to ensure only eligible American citizens who do choose to exercise their right to vote in Alabama elections are participating in fair, secure, and transparent elections.”

However, nonprofit organizations, like the ACLU of Alabama and Stand Up Mobile, actively stressed the importance of increasing turnout in the state leading up to Election Day. The former launched Project MOVE (Making Our Voices Echo), an initiative to reduce impediments to voter turnout, while the latter engaged in local canvassing events and offered free carpooling to the polls for residents of Mobile.

Although initial numbers suggest relatively high levels of turnout in Alabama, that turnout remains relatively consistent with past general elections and does not appear to be “record-breaking.” From noncompetitive elections that leave potential voters apathetic, to restrictive laws that may prevent individuals from accessing the ballot box, to public purge efforts that could scare off voters, there are a multitude of factors that may limit turnout in Alabama when compared to other states.