Candidate Qualifications

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If you wish to become a candidate for public office, please review the information on this page. If you would like additional information, please contact the Montgomery Election Center. The Election Center is non-partisan and candidate-neutral, but available to answer questions and provide information as needed.

General Qualifications for Public Office

Any candidate for public office in Alabama must be:

At least 18 years of age (minimum age requirement varies by office);
A registered voter;
A United States citizen (length of citizenship requirement varies by office); and
A resident of Alabama (length of residency requirement varies by office).

Minimum Qualifications (By Office)

Office	Age	State Res.	U.S. Citizen	Term Length	Term Limit
U.S. Senate	30	1 day	9 years	6 years	None
U.S. House	25	1 day	7 years	2 years	None
Governor	30	7 years	10 years	4 years	2
Lt. Governor	30	7 years	10 years	4 years	2
Sec. of State	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Atty. General	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Auditor	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Treasurer	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Ag. Comm’r.	25	5 years	7 years	4 years	2
Pub. Srv. Comm.	18	1 day	1 day	4 years	None
Supreme Court	18	1 day	1 day	6 years	None
Civil Appeals	18	1 day	1 day	6 years	None
Crim. Appeals	18	1 day	1 day	6 years	None
State Bd. of Ed.	18	1 day	1 day	4 years	None
State Senate*	25	3 years	1 day	4 years	None
State House*	21	3 years	1 day	4 years	None
Circuit Judge*	18	1 year	1 day	6 years	None
District Judge*	18	1 year	1 day	6 years	None
District Atty.*	18	1 year	1 day	6 years	None
Probate Judge*	18	1 year	1 day	6 years	None
Circuit Clerk	18	1 day	1 day	6 years	None
Sheriff	18	1 day	1 day	4 years	None
Co. Bd. of Ed.*	18	1 day	1 day	6 years	None
County Comm.	18	1 day	1 day	4 years	None
Mayor*	18	90 days	1 day	4 years	None
City Council*	18	6 months	1 day	4 years	None

Becoming a Candidate

You may become a "candidate" for political office by:

Qualifying with a political party recognized by the State of Alabama;
Reaching the contribution/expenditure threshold for the office sought (see Fair Campaign Practices Act link); or
Filing a valid petition to gain ballot access as an independent or municipal candidate.

Within five (5) calendar days of becoming a candidate you must file the Appointment of Principal Campaign Committee form with the Secretary of State for all County or State office - or the Judge of Probate for all municipal offices (see Fair Campaign Practices Act link).

All candidates for political office and elected officials must file a Statement of Economic Interests with the Alabama Ethics Commission (see Candidate Forms link).