Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill is confident that the Yellowhammer state is prepared to keep citizens safe during the July 14 primary election. In a recent video, Merrill explained how polling places would look different during this election. Poll workers will be equipped with disinfectant sprays and wipes to keep the polling places clean and sanitized. Poll workers will also use gloves, masks, and other PPE to keep voters safe. Preparations for the upcoming election have been ongoing for months. The current Coronavirus pandemic has opened discussion and debate on how best to protect voters while also making voting accessible to everyone.
President Donald Trump enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) in March. From the CARES Act, $400 million in Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Emergency funds were made available to states through the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). This money was distributed among each state. Alabama was awarded $6,498,674 and had to match an additional $1,299,734, for a total of $7,798,408. The polling sites use these funds for PPE.
To stay transparent, Secretary Merrill released a list of each county detailing how much each county requested and received.
Mobile and Jefferson counties were allotted the most funding with Mobile receiving $498,431.26 and Jefferson county receiving $451,005.12. Montgomery County was a distant 3rd with $99,250.37.
The primary election runoff is July 14. More election day information can be found here.
| County | Amount Requested | Amount Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Autauga | $14,989.90 | $14,989.90 |
| Baldwin | $30,359.41 | $30,359.41 |
| Barbour | $12,392.90 | $12,392.90 |
| Bibb | $6,868.43 | $6,868.43 |
| Blount | $10,604.75 | $10,604.75 |
| Bullock | $8,227.80 | $8,227.80 |
| Butler | $9,547.35 | $9,547.35 |
| Calhoun | $94,994.17 | $94,994.17 |
| Chambers | $17,569.00 | $17,569.00 |
| Cherokee | $33,761.94 | $33,761.94 |
| Chilton | $9,050.42 | $9,050.42 |
| Choctaw | $18,502.71 | $18,502.71 |
| Clarke | $15,239.00 | $15,239.00 |
| Clay | $4,485.15 | $4,485.15 |
| Cleburne | $8,900.00 | $8,900.00 |
| Coffee | $16,836.66 | $16,836.66 |
| Colbert | $10,117.50 | $10,117.50 |
| Conecuh | $6,724.00 | $6,724.00 |
| Coosa | $10,257.41 | $10,257.41 |
| Covington | $23,027.00 | $23,027.00 |
| Crenshaw | $6,225.00 | $6,225.00 |
| Cullman | $20,787.37 | $20,787.37 |
| Dale | $36,557.24 | $36,557.24 |
| Dallas | $38,090.69 | $38,090.69 |
| DeKalb | $11,300.00 | $11,300.00 |
| Elmore | $41,896.61 | $41,896.61 |
| Escambia | $14,823.35 | $14,823.35 |
| Etowah | $23,565.02 | $23,565.02 |
| Fayette | $8,475.00 | $8,475.00 |
| Franklin | $9,185.70 | $9,185.70 |
| Geneva | $8,187.50 | $8,187.50 |
| Greene | $8,175.00 | $8,175.00 |
| Hale | $9,843.30 | $9,843.30 |
| Henry | $13,197.00 | $13,197.00 |
| Houston | $42,037.11 | $42,037.11 |
| Jackson | $23,857.90 | $23,857.90 |
| Jefferson | $451,005.12 | $451,005.12 |
| Lamar | $7,873.64 | $7,873.64 |
| Lauderdale | $14,603.46 | $14,603.46 |
| Lawrence | $10,656.00 | $10,656.00 |
| Lee | $35,734.78 | $35,734.78 |
| Limestone | $23,150.62 | $23,150.62 |
| Lowndes | $11,796.13 | $11,796.13 |
| Macon | $21,762.04 | $21,762.04 |
| Madison | $56,676.03 | $56,676.03 |
| Marengo | $10,269.99 | $10,269.99 |
| Marion | $8,877.40 | $8,877.40 |
| Marshall | $16,760.30 | $16,760.30 |
| Mobile | $498,431.26 | $400,439.64 |
| Monroe | $29,491.01 | $29,491.01 |
| Montgomery | $99,250.37 | $99,250.37 |
| Morgan | $37,121.38 | $37,121.38 |
| Perry | $14,243.18 | $14,243.18 |
| Pickens | $15,662.23 | $15,662.23 |
| Pike | $16,707.86 | $16,707.86 |
| Randolph | $8,554.00 | $8,554.00 |
| Russell | $40,040.36 | $40,040.36 |
| St. Clair | $18,335.00 | $18,335.00 |
| Shelby | $22,121.85 | $22,121.85 |
| Sumter | $46,063.09 | $41,632.71 |
| Talladega | $15,022.37 | $15,022.37 |
| Tallapoosa | $9,075.84 | $9,075.84 |
| Tuscaloosa | $42,766.46 | $42,587.72 |
| Walker | $15,610.86 | $15,610.86 |
| Washington | $20,553.83 | $20,553.83 |
| Wilcox | $13,770.00 | $13,770.00 |
| Winston | $11,375.56 | $11,375.56 |
| TOTALS | $2,322,021.31 | $2,219,420.57 |
