Understanding the ballot: Election 2026

When voters head to the polls, the race for sheriff is often one of the most closely watched local contests. In Alabama, the sheriff is an elected position, chosen by voters in each county to serve a four-year term. Sheriffs may seek re-election and serve multiple terms, and there are no term limits for the office under state law. Sheriff elections follow the same general structure as other partisan county offices. Candidates typically qualify through a political party and compete first in that party’s primary election. To win a primary outright, a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate reaches that majority threshold, the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff election, where voters choose between the remaining candidates.