On August 26, 2025, most cities and towns in Alabama with a mayor-council form of government will hold elections.

Sylacauga is comprised of five districts, and we will elect five council members and a mayor. Of the total 8.553 active registered voters (as of May 19, 2025):

District 1: 2,084 (24%)

District 2: 1,454 (17%)

District 3: 1,606 (19%)

District 4: 1,858 (22%)

District 5: 1,551 (18%)

Not sure where you live? Click here to find your address on the city’s base map, where District 4 is shown in orange. You may enlarge and zoom to desired areas of the map for more detail.

And how does city government work — not just in Sylacauga, but statewide?

One of the most misunderstood aspects of municipal government is the separation of powers between the mayor and the council. Like government on the state and federal levels, municipal government is divided into three separate branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. Each of these branches has distinct duties, powers, and restrictions on how far it can intrude into the affairs of the other branches.

At the municipal level, the mayor serves as the head of the executive branch. As such, the mayor is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the municipality. He or she oversees municipal employees, makes sure that bills are paid on time, executes municipal contracts, and, in general, performs many of the same functions as a CEO of a private corporation. In cities with populations of more than 12,000, including Sylacauga, the mayor is not a member of the council. The mayor's "veto" authority is limited to city council actions of a permanent nature and does not extend to other council actions. The council can override the mayor's veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

The city council is the legislative branch and has authority over the municipality's finances and property, establishes policies, passes ordinances and resolutions, sets tax levels, determines what services the municipality will offer, and has authority over all other legislative aspects of municipal government.

Intrigued? Additional information is here.

Candidates must also file with the Alabama Ethics Commission at ethics.alabama.gov.

Key dates:

May 28 -- Last day a person can become a resident of the municipality and district in order to become a candidate.

June 10 -- Mayor required to give notice of the election. Candidates may begin qualifying at city hall once notice is published.

June 24 -- Last day, by 5:00 p.m., to qualify to run for municipal office.

July 27 -- Last day to establish residency to vote in the municipal general election.

Aug. 11 -- Last day to register to vote for the municipal general election.

Aug. 19 -- Last day to receive an application for a regular absentee ballot by mail.

Aug. 21 -- Last day for a voter to hand deliver an application for a regular absentee ballot. Last day to publish the list of qualified voters.

Aug. 25 -- Last day for a voter to apply for an emergency absentee ballot. Last day, up to the close of business, for a voter to deliver an absentee ballot (non-emergency).

Aug. 26 -- Election day.

Sept. 23 -- Runoff(s), if necessary.

Election Information