MOBILE, Ala. — With Election Day about six weeks away, a Mobile community organizer is encouraging voters to do more than simply show up and mark a ballot. Reggie Weaver wants them to understand exactly what, and who, they are voting for.
Weaver hosted “Civics & Conversation: Know Your Ballot” on Thursday at Great Day Latte in downtown Mobile. The free event focused on helping residents better understand the election process, the offices that may appear on their ballots and how the people elected to those offices can affect their everyday lives.
Born out of confusion after the May primary
Weaver said the event grew out of what he saw as a lack of information among voters following Alabama’s May primary election.
“After the primary back in May, there was just a lot of lack of information about understanding what a primary is, understanding all the different types of elections are,” Weaver said. “So this kind of starts off with going back to the basics and how elections work.”
Alabama voters have faced an unusually busy and complicated election calendar in 2026, including primaries, runoffs and, in the 2nd Congressional District, a special primary after the state’s congressional map changed. For many residents, keeping track of which election is which, and who is eligible to vote in each, can be confusing.
What attendees learned
The session covered a range of practical topics, including:
- Voter registration: How to register and how to confirm registration status before Election Day.
- Redistricting: How district lines are drawn and why they may have changed.
- Finding your district: How voters can identify which congressional, legislative, county commission and school board districts they live in.
- Offices on the ballot: The different offices that could appear on a ballot and what each one is responsible for.
Weaver said the goal is not to tell anyone how to vote, but to give people the information they need to make their own decisions.
“You want to know what you’re voting for,” Weaver said. “A lot of people just honestly mark something and not knowing who it is, what they stand for or anything.”
‘Every part of our lives is affected by some sort of policy’
Weaver said voters should research candidates and learn about the offices they are seeking before filling out their ballots, because elected officials shape policies that touch nearly every part of daily life, from roads and schools to taxes and public safety.
“Every part of our lives is affected by some sort of policy, and those policies are shaped by who are elected in office,” Weaver said. “So I think it’s important for people to understand not only who’s running, but what that office actually does.”
A coffee shop as a civic classroom
Kimberly Knight, owner of Great Day Latte, said hosting the event was a chance to increase voter education in the community and to help younger residents become more familiar with the voting process.
“We decided if we do more events from an educational standpoint, teaching about the redistricting that had happened, just knowing your ballot,” Knight said. “A lot of different things that will help with voting as well as for the younger people.”
Knight said the idea is to hold more events with an educational focus that help residents feel more confident when they go to the polls.
What’s on the Nov. 3 ballot in Mobile County
Mobile County voters will see a long ballot on Nov. 3. Among the high-profile contests:
- Governor: Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville faces Democrat Doug Jones, a former U.S. senator.
- U.S. Senate: Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Moore is seeking the seat Tuberville is leaving.
- 1st Congressional District: Former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, a Republican, faces Democrat Clyde Jones Jr.
- 2nd Congressional District: Republican state Rep. Rhett Marques is challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures.
Voters will also decide state legislative races, local offices and a series of ballot questions. Four statewide constitutional amendments will address how vacancies in the lieutenant governor’s office are filled, a process for merging neighboring county school systems, policies for the daily Pledge of Allegiance and student-led prayer in public schools, and a weekly performance of the national anthem in schools. Mobile County voters will also weigh local proposals, including a property tax freeze on the assessed value of homes owned by residents 65 and older.
Constitutional amendments are often among the least understood items on a ballot, which is exactly the kind of gap events like Weaver’s aim to fill. Each amendment is described on the ballot in legal language, and voters who read about the measures ahead of time are often better prepared to decide.
How to get ready to vote
For voters who want to follow Weaver’s advice and prepare before Election Day, here are some steps to take:
- Check your registration. Confirm your registration status and polling place through the Alabama Secretary of State’s website or the Mobile County Board of Registrars. Registration closes roughly two weeks before the election, so check the official deadline and act early.
- Know your districts. Because district lines have changed, confirm which congressional, legislative and local districts you live in.
- Review a sample ballot. Sample ballots let you see every race and amendment before you enter the voting booth.
- Research candidates and amendments. Read candidate information, local news coverage and official amendment descriptions.
- Bring a valid photo ID. Alabama requires voters to show an acceptable photo ID at the polls. Voters without one can obtain a free voter ID through the state.
- Plan your trip. Polls in Alabama are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters who qualify to vote absentee should pay close attention to application and return deadlines.
Election Day is Nov. 3
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. For Weaver, the message is simple: an informed vote is a stronger vote. By going back to the basics — how elections work, what each office does and where to find reliable information — he hopes more Mobile residents will walk into the polls confident in their choices.