John Merrill requests emergency opinion from AG’s office to postpone runoff election
Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the State of Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill has requested an emergency opinion from the Attorney General’s Office related to the possible postponement of the March 31 runoff election given the fact that President Donald Trump has declared a National Emergency and Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a State of Emergency. Merrill’s request seeks to keep Alabamians safe from the potential spread of the virus. He has asked whether, under the emergency powers granted to the Governor under Section 31-9-1 et seq. Ala. Code, the Governor has the authority to postpone the election. Currently, neither the Code of Alabama nor the Constitution of the State of Alabama allow for the suspension, delay, or postponement of an election once the date has been set. According to Merrill’s office, “the health and well-being of the people of this state are of paramount importance. In order to effectively practice social distancing, as recommended by the President of the United States, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Alabama Department of Public Health, etc., the March 31 runoff election must be postponed.” Since absentee ballots have yet to be mailed out, Merrill’s office confirms that votes in the runoff election would not be affected.
Here’s where the candidates will be on primary runoff election night
Tuesday is Primary Runoff Election Day in Alabama, where the top two candidates from both major parties who failed to garner 50 plus percent of the vote on primary day, will face off at ballot boxes across the state to see who advances to the November General Election. If you’re hoping to hang out and catch a glimpse of the candidates, here is where you will find them Tuesday night: Lt. Governor’s race Will Ainsworth What: Election Night Rally and Watch Party When: TBA Where: Wintzells Oyster House (14455 US-431 Guntersville, AL 35976) Twinkle Cavanaugh What: Election Night Watch Party When: TBA Where: The Renaissance Hotel (201 Tallapoosa St., Montgomery, AL 36104) Attorney General’s race Troy King What: Election Night Watch Party When: TBA Where: The Renaissance Hotel (201 Tallapoosa St., Montgomery, AL 36104) Steve Marshall What: Steve Marshall for Attorney Election Night Watch Party When: 7:00 p.m. Where: Moe’s Original Bar B Que (1051 E Fairview Ave. Montgomery, AL 36106) Alabama Supreme Court: Associate Justice, Place 1 Brad Mendheim TBA Sarah Stewart TBA Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate TBA Gerald Dial TBA Court of Civil Appeals, Place 1 Christy Edwards TBA Michelle Thomason TBA Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2 Rich Anderson TBA Chris McCool TBA *This story will be updated as candidates release their election day schedules.
Voter registration deadline for July 17 runoff election is Monday
Monday, July 2 is the deadline for Alabamians to register to vote if they want to cast a ballot in the upcoming July 17 primary runoff election, according to the Secretary of State’s office. State law mandates the 15th day before an election as the voter registration deadline. How to register to vote Alabamians who are at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, have not been convicted of a disqualifying felony or declared “mentally incompetent” by a court may register one of three ways: Via an electronic voter application through the Alabama Secretary of State’s website here. Via a mail the application. You may download and print a copy of the form here. In person at your local Board of Registrars’ office. Office locations can be found here.
Crossover ban in effect for runoffs following June 5 primary
The June 5 primary, one week from today, will be the first major, multi-office election in Alabama since the state’s new crossover voting ban went into effect. Translation: whatever party a voter chooses to vote with in the primary, they cannot change it in any runoff elections. The ban, signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey last year, “helps the Democrats choose Democratic candidates, it helps the Republicans choose Republican candidates. It just prevents the cross-over voting so you get a pure general election with a Democrat and a Republican,” Auburn-Republican Sen. Tom Whatley told AL.com, last May. “Voters just need to know that we want them to know and expect them to follow the law,” Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told the Times Daily. “You must vote in the same party in this nomination election cycle.” Alabamians who don’t follow the law face felony charges, over a year in prison, and a $15,000 fine. Merrill said his office identified 647 instances of crossover voting in last years’ contentious U.S. senate election; his office still has the names of those voters on the crossover list. “If those people do it again, the same people, there is no misunderstanding about what they did,” he told the Decatur Daily. The ban does not apply to the general election, only the runoffs. Voters can switch their party for the general election in November, and in any other elections after the runoffs.
John Merrill lays out information on School Board runoff election
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill released information Wednesday regarding an April 12 runoff election in Mobile County. The election is for the District 1 State School Board member and pits Republican incumbent Matthew Brown against newcomer Jackie Zeigler. In the March 1 election, neither candidate got enough votes to outright win the party’s nomination. Because Mobile Public Schools will be enjoying Spring Break the week of the runoff, many residents will likely be out of town. Because of that, Merrill has released instructions on how residents can obtain an absentee ballot and cast their votes. Voters can download an absentee ballot application through the Secretary of State’s website or request one in person at 205 Government St. in Mobile. The last day to request a ballot is April 7. Ballots returned by mail must be sent by April 11 and received by noon on Election Day. Absentee ballots submitted in person must be turned in by close of business April 11. For information, contact Merrill’s office at (334) 242-7200.
