Absentee voting opened Tuesday, July 29, for 2025 municipal elections. In the City of Andalusia, absentee voting is being managed on the third floor of Andalusia City Hall, 505 East Three Notch Street.
You may request an absentee ballot in person, or by mail.
If requesting in person, a voter should go to the third floor of City Hall and complete an absentee voting application. The voter must provide a photo ID, which will be copied and attached to the application.
The voter will be handed a ballot and a series of envelopes. The voter can complete the ballot at a privacy table. The ballot should then be placed in the secrecy envelope. The secrecy envelope is placed inside a second envelope, and the voter must complete an affidavit on the outside of that envelope. The affidavit must be notarized, or two people must witness the voter’s signature.
That envelope is placed inside a mailing envelope. The voter must then place the envelope inside the absentee voting box.
If requesting by mail, a voter should call City Hall at 334.222.3313 to request an application form, or download one from the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. The application must be returned with a copy of the voter’s photo identification to the Elections Manager at 505 East Three Notch Street, Andalusia, AL 36420.
A ballot will then be mailed to the voter, who will follow the same steps above for completing the ballot before mailing back to the Elections Manager at 505 East Three Notch Street, Andalusia, AL.
A person may cast an absentee ballot if he or she:
• Expects to be absent from the county on election day
• Is ill or has a physical disability that prevents a trip to the polling place
• Is physically incapacitated and will not be able to vote in person due to a disability.
• Is a registered Alabama voter living outside the county
• Expects to work a required shift, 10 hours or more, that coincides with polling hours.
• Is a caregiver for a family member to a second degree of kinship and the family member is confined to his or her home.
• Is currently incarcerated in prison or jail and has not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude.
August 19, 2025, is the last day to request an absentee ballot.
Sample ballots are available here:
District 1
The links below provide sample ballots for the 2026 Municipal Election in the City of Andalusia.
Polls will be open from 7 am. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
CITY IMPROVES FINANCIAL POSITION FOR 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
The City of Andalusia increased its net position for the 10th consecutive year, the city’s audit for the fiscal year ending in 2024 showed.
Missy Pierce, CPA, and Gail Hayes, CPA, from Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes, P.C. presented a draft of the city’s audited financials for fiscal year 2024 to the Andalusia City Council last week. The auditors reported no findings.
“This is the best report we can give,” Pierce said.
Pierce said the City of Andalusia increased its net position, which was $45,618,516 at September 30, 2024, by $493,516, as compared to FY 2023.
“In the non-government world, that would be called retained earnings,” she said, adding that it includes monies set aside for education and bond payments, and monies that are restricted for use for street paving and the courts.
Other highlights of the audit included:
• The City’s income generated from taxes, program revenues, and transfers in was $27,281,737. This is an increase of approximately $1,587,725 over the prior year.
• The City’s largest single source of revenue, sales and use tax, increased approximately $194,587 from the prior year, resulting in revenues of $12,226,108 for fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
• The City reduced its long-term debt by $2.6 million in FY 2024.
Long-term debt on September 30, 2024 was $46,172,462. This includes:
-- Andalusia City Schools’ 2018 Bonds, $6,045,000, and 2019 Bonds, $5,020,000;
--South Alabama Regional Airport Authority’s 2016B Bonds, $3,125,237; and
--The Industrial Development Board’s 2019A Revenue Bonds, $4,635,000.
The remaining debt of $27,347,225 is the city's general obligation bonds and note payables.
• The City’s governmental activities debt to income ratio for the year was approximately 16.7%. Pierce said this is a very healthy percentage, adding that 50 percent or higher is cause for concern, and 30 percent or lower is considered healthy.
• The City reported capital outlays of $6,587,994. These projects included:
-The Andalusia High School Sidewalk project;
-City-wide street paving
-Prestwood Building 1st floor renovation;
-Police, street and maintenance department vehicles; and
-New land fill cell addition.
The City also had several projects in progress at September 30, 2024
Pierce said the auditors’ report is “unmodified,” which is the best that can be given.
Pierce explained to the council that the auditors’ work is detailed.
“We come in and spend a week going through all kinds of records that we request,” she said. “Then we go back to the office and spend several more weeks going through them to put together the evidence we need to support the document presented here today.”
“The city continues to improve its strong financial position,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “This is great news for the city, and it is because of the guidance of the council and the contributions of everyone who works for the city.”
John Thompson, city administrator, said the audit reflects a months-long process.
“They really dig into every aspect of the city’s finances,” he said.
The council is expected to officially adopt the financial statement at its next meeting, set for August 4.
Retailers continue to express interest in locating in Andalusia, City Administrator John Thompson told the Andalusia City Council last week.
“I can confirm that the Jackson brothers, who own the Shoppes of Covington, have secured a new tenant for the space formerly occupied by Big Lots,” Thompson said. “They aren’t ready to make the announcement, but I can say it is a national grocery.”
Thompson also told the council he had met earlier that day with Wintzell’s Oyster House, which has locations in Greenville and Montgomery.
“They were fine with me sharing the information that they are considering Andalusia as their next location,” he said. “We feel like there is a high degree of probability of that working out.”
He also noted that Wintzell’s extensive menu includes several items featuring Conecuh Sausage, which will soon be manufactured in Andalusia.
Thompson’s comments came on the heels of the auditors’ presentation.
Missy Pierce, CPA, and Gail Hayes, CPA, from Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes, P.C. presented a draft of the city’s audited financials for fiscal year 2024 to the Andalusia City Council.
The audit showed that sales taxes, which are the city’s primary source of income, increased by $194,587 in 2024, which represents a $4.8 million growth in local retail sales. The city’s total sales tax revenue in 2024 was $12.2 million.
A portion of that revenue is reserved for local schools.
“Building our local retail economy helps us develop the city, and provides funding for services and amenities provided by the city,” Thompson said.
The Andalusia Police Department became one of the first Alabama departments to be officially accredited by the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police.
Greenville Police Chief Justin Lovvorn, who serves as vice president of the association, presented the official certification to Mayor Earl Johnson and Andalusia Chief Paul Hudson Tuesday night.
The certificate of accreditation says the department has “demonstrated its commitment to police excellence by living up to the progressive standards to ensure that police services are delivered within the community at the highest level of professionalism and integrity.”
Lovvorn said Andalusia is one of the first departments to receive the five-year accreditation.
Hudson, who chaired the AACOP committee that developed accreditation standards, said to receive the five-year accreditation, a department’s policies must be audited.