Alabama has changed the date of its 2026 Democratic and Republican primaries because of a conflict with Memorial Day.

The Legislature passed a bill changing Alabama’s primary in non-presidential years from the fourth Tuesday in May to the Tuesday preceding Memorial Day.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed it into law last week.

That means next year’s primary will be May 19 instead of May 26.

Voters that day will be choosing Republican and Democrat candidates for governor and possibly U.S. Senate if Tommy Tuberville chooses to run for governor.

Lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general races will also be on the ballot.

Rep. Jim Carns, R-Vestavia Hills, who sponsored the bill, said election officials contacted him to request the change because of what would have been the difficulties of preparing for the election that occurred one day after a holiday and a three-day weekend.

Memorial Day is May 25 next year.

The change also means that candidates in the 2026 primary can begin raising money a week earlier. The official start of campaign fundraising is one year before the primary.

The Alabama secretary of state’s office has updated the dates on the election calendar.

The bill will not affect the dates of Alabama primaries during presidential election years.

Those will remain the first Tuesday in March.

Carn said the conflict with Memorial Day was an unintended consequence of a change made several years ago, when the Legislature moved the primary in non-presidential years from the first Tuesday in June to the fourth Tuesday in May.