Bill Changing Primary Election Date Headed To Governor For Signature
HB258 moves off-Presidential year primaries to Tuesday before Memorial Day
A bill permanently moving Alabama’s Primary Election Day to the Tuesday before Memorial Day has passed both the Alabama House and Senate. It now awaits Governor Kay Ivey’s signature to become law.
The change only affects off-Presidential election year primaries. The primary during Presidential election years will continue to be on Super Tuesday—the first Tuesday in March.
HB258 was introduced by State Representative Jim Carnes (R-Vestavia Hills) because the 2026 primary election would have taken place on the Tuesday after Memorial Day, May 26th.
This change places the 2026 Alabama primary election on May 19, rather than May 26th. The timing of the runoff election is unchanged relative to the primary—four weeks later.
The restriction on fundraising for State offices is unchanged. It is still restricted to one year before the primary. The practical effect for this year is that candidates will now be able to begin raising money on May 19th rather than May 26th.
This change will prevent those rare occurrences of the primary falling on the day after a major holiday.
Governor Ivey is expected to sign HB258 into law.
