Auburn, Alabama municipal elections are held every four years to elect the mayor of the city and members of the city council. A runoff election is held if no candidate receives a majority of the votes, in both mayoral and city council elections.
Auburn uses a runoff electoral system. Prior to 1956, council members were voted on citywide, before wards were drawn for the city.
The 1901 election took place on January 5, 1901.
Incumbent mayor J. W. Harris was elected unopposed.
The 1904 election was held on January 2, 1904.
C. E. Little was elected mayor.
The following people were elected to the city council:
Incumbent mayor Dr. Cecil S. Yarbrough was elected unopposed.
Incumbent mayor Dr. Cecil S. Yarbrough was elected unopposed.
Incumbent mayor Dr. Cecil S. Yarbrough defeated J. W. Wright and was re-elected.
The 1926 election took place in September 1926.
Incumbent mayor Dr. Cecil S. Yarbrough was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term.
The following people were elected to the city council:
The 1928 election took place on September 17, 1928.
W. D. Copeland defeated incumbent Cecil S. Yarbrough.
All five members were elected city-wide, with voters selecting five.
The 1932 election was held in September 1932.
Incumbent W. D. Copeland was elected unopposed.
The following people were elected to the city council:
The 1936 election was held in September 1936.
The following people were elected as councilmen:
The 1940 election was held on September 16, 1940.
The 1944 election was held on September 17, 1944.
G. H. Wright was elected mayor.
The 1956 election was held on September 17, 1956.
Each ward elected two members, and voters selected two candidates on their ballots.
An election was held in 1961. Louie W. James served as mayor from 1961 to 1963.
The 1964 election was held on August 11, 1964. Runoffs were held on September 15, 1964.
The 1968 election took place on 13 August 1968, with runoffs taking place on 10 September 1968.
James K. Haygood Jr. defeated incumbent G.H. Wright.
The 1972 election was held on 8 August 1972. Runoffs were held on 12 September 1972.
James K. Haygood Jr. won the runoff election, and was elected to his second term.
Eugene E. Stanaland won the runoff over Andrew J. Gentry Jr.
Four candidates qualified for the ballot for this seat.
Six candidates qualified for the ballot for this seat.
O. Clyde Prather was unopposed in this seat.
Three candidates qualified for the ballot for this seat. The top two advanced to a runoff.
The 1976 election was held on 10 August 1976, with runoffs being held on 14 September 1976.
Donald E. Hayhurst won the runoff election.
Incumbent Eugene Stanaland was defeated by William Allen after he was only able to win one of the four wards.
The 1980 election was held on 8 July 1980, with runoff elections being held on 29 July 1980.
On 10 July 1980, Caine Campbell filed a notice of withdrawal with the City of Auburn. As the only remaining candidate, Jan Dempsey was selected as mayor with no runoff election held.
No election was held for Ward 3, Place 2.
The 1982 election was held on 13 July 1982, with the runoff elections being held on 3 August 1982. This was also the final election in which a city council president was elected.
Incumbent mayor Jan Dempsey was the only qualified candidate, and as such, she won the election unopposed.
No elections were held for the following seats:
The 1984 election was held on 10 July 1984.
No elections were held for the following seats:
The 1986 election was held on 8 July 1986, with the runoff elections being held on 29 July 1986.
No elections were held for the following seats:
The 1990 election was held on 28 August 1990, with the runoff elections being held on 18 September 1990.
No elections were held for the following seats:
The 1994 election was held on 23 August 1994, with runoffs being held on 13 September 1994.
Incumbent mayor Jan Dempsey won a majority of votes in the first round against two opposition candidates.
No elections were held for the following seats:
The 1998 election was held on 25 August 1998, with the runoff elections being held on 15 September 1995.
Bill Ham Jr. won the election in a landslide vote.
No elections were held for the following seats:
The 2002 election was held on 27 August 2002.
Incumbent mayor Bill Ham Jr. did not have opposition, and won the election unopposed.
No elections were held for the following seats:
The 2006 election was held on 22 August 2006, with runoffs being held on 10 September 2006.
Bill Ham Jr. won the election with 77.6% of the vote.
Any runoff elections were held on 12 September.
Incumbent mayor Ron Anders Jr. ran unopposed in the election.
The 2026 elections will be held on 25 August 2026.
Referendums are held in Auburn primarily to allow residents to vote on tax propositions.
A referendum was held on August 28, 2001, to determine voter approval on how to use revenue from the Five Mill Tax, established in 1948. The referendum granted funding to the building of a new cemetery, a passive park, and a new soccer complex.
A referendum was held on January 24, 2012, to determine voter approval on how to use revenue from the Special Five-Mill Tax. The referendum granted funding to a number of city-funded projects throughout Auburn.
A referendum was held in 2013 to increase property taxes in the city, in order to fund the building of a new high school. The referendum failed at 46% in favor.