Invisible Emblems to Boost Ballot Security in Alabama
Alabama to become 1st state to use this invisible ballot marking system
Secretary of State Wes Allen announced this week that starting in 2026, Alabama ballots will include a security emblem you can’t see with your eyes. Only special scanners, given to local election offices, will spot them. That means no forgeries or photocopied ballots slipping by.
Alabama is the first state in the U.S. to team up with its ballot printer to use these invisible emblems. Allen has been working on this since he first took office.
“The implementation of this emblem system is taking our state’s election security to the highest level that it has ever been. My team and I have been working on the development and implementation of this level of ballot protection since my first days in office,” Allen said. “Rolling out these ballot measures by the date of the 2026 election cycle was the goal, and I am honored to say it is a goal we have met.”
This invisible emblem is like a hidden signature on your vote. It helps confirm that your ballot is real and was printed by Alabama’s official vendor. It’s also a big step forward for election safety, showing that Alabama is willing to try new tech to keep things secure.
Local election offices will get the scanning gear soon, in time for early voting and absentee ballots in 2026. The new ballots will be used in the 2026 primary election and primary runoff on absentee ballots. Beginning with the 2026 general election, all ballots will have the emblem.
To stay ahead of counterfeiters, the emblem’s look and where it shows up on the page will change every cycle.
Allen stressed why this matters. “Protecting Alabama’s elections is of the utmost importance to me,” he said. “I am incredibly proud of the work my team and I have done to lead the nation in election security advancements.”
This new addition to ballots shouldn’t change the voting experience, but is a behind-the-scenes step to increase election security.
Angela Shepherd from Alabama was able to show that the ES&S voting machines proclaimed security protocol was a lie. The machine accepted photocopied ballots on regular copy paper that were cut to size with scissors.
