Election Day 2012 is over. Except for the counting and the analysis. Results from today’s races in Alabama and the Birmingham metro area …

More election coverage in our Vote 2012 special report.

(Updating throughout the evening.)

(Contested races only)

• D = Democrat | I = incumbent | R = Republican
  
• Winner in red

Tweets

This just in on Twitter …

Don't know why I'm so paranoid about privacy filling out ballot. Seems like the one thing I'd want someone to copy off me.

— Wade Kwon, Data Guru (@WadeOnTweets) November 6, 2012

ALGOP is proud to deliver our electoral votes to @MittRomney and @PaulRyanVP! #alpolitics

— ALGOP (@ALGOP) November 7, 2012

Band performing at Roy Moore headquarters singing Christian version of “Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Crowd seems to like it. #alpolitics

— South Union Street (@SouthUnionSt) November 7, 2012

Remember: The saints you vote in today will be the bums you toss in the next election.

— Wade Kwon, Data Guru (@WadeOnTweets) November 7, 2012

AL Rep. Party announces they are closing the bar bc they are out of booze. #cbs42 #42election

— Shanisty Ireland (@shanistyireland) November 7, 2012

Election Night 2012: More fun than a binder full of women!

— Wade Kwon, Data Guru (@WadeOnTweets) November 7, 2012

Alabama calls for special secession referendum in 3 … 2 … 1 … #alpolitics

— Wade Kwon, Data Guru (@WadeOnTweets) November 7, 2012

Hey America, get ready for some bat shit crazy stuff to start flowing out of Alabama's new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court! #facepalm

— Jeff Moore (@shadowhelm) November 7, 2012

https://twitter.com/theBGrass/status/266055702567608320

Secretary of State @BethChapmanAL says 72.37 percent of voters went to polls on Tuesday. In 2008, turnout was about 73 percent. #alpolitics

— South Union Street (@SouthUnionSt) November 7, 2012

(Or visit the TweetGrid page.)

Facebook

Visit the Birmingham, Ala., page on Facebook.

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Know someone sorely disappointed in the outcome?
Send them the post-election moving kit.

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Republicans win all statewide offices.
Has Alabama blossomed as a red state?
My essay from 2010. 

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More Vote 2012 coverage.

Photo: Steve Terrell (CC)

On your mark, get set, vote! Polls are open from now till 7 tonight for national, state and local races.

Q: Where do I vote?

A: Call Jefferson County: (205) 325-5550, Jefferson County (Bessemer only): (205) 481-4105, Shelby County: (205) 669-3913.

Or Search Your Polling Place on AlabamaVotes.gov.

Wade on Birmingham:
election results tonight

Remember, if you have problems at your polling place:

• Notify a poll worker immediately.
• Call the state attorney general at 1-800-831-8814 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday or fill out this online form.
• Call the secretary of state at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683) or visit her site, StopVoterFraudNow.com.
• And tell the probate court for Jefferson County (205-325-5203) or Shelby County (205-669-3713).
• E-mail us at Vote2012[at]wadeonbirmingham.com.

Q: What can I expect to see on the ballots?

A: Check out these sample ballots for each county.

You’re voting for president, U.S. Representative, state and county officials.

Q: And what about all those amendments?

A: Some last-minute recommendations from Alabama Media Group, Left in Alabama, the Attack Machine and Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.

Who are you voting for today? Tell us in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

Two different elections took place across the Birmingham area today.

First, mayoral race runoff winners for cities in Jefferson and Shelby Counties:

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And in the Birmingham $150 million bond referendum:

• Landfill expansion: Yes
• Street/sidewalk improvements: Yes
• Economic development: Yes
• Public building facilities and equipment: Yes
• Park improvements: Yes
• Storm/sanitary sewers: Yes

Next: The general election takes place Nov. 6.

Update: Oct. 11: Voter turnout for the Birmingham bond referendum was below 10 percent.

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

One month till Election Day.

To aid your trip to the polls, we have the sample ballots for Jefferson and Shelby Counties for the general election. (The 180-page Jefferson County ballot has a version for every district.)

Know the candidates. Study the 11 state amendments. Be an informed voter.

Also, check out the Alabama Voter Guide, with voting procedures and frequently asked questions.

For easier viewing, you can print, download or zoom to full screen with each ballot.

Election Day is Nov. 6.

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Sample ballots for all 67 counties.

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Jefferson County

Shelby County

Alabama Voter Guide 2012

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More Vote 2012 coverage.

Video: A look at Birmingham’s $150 million bond referendum
on Tuesday

Birmingham-area residents won’t have to wait till November to visit the polls. August had municipal races, September had a state referendum, and October …

This month is special, with two dates and three different elections. It’s like Christmas for voters. A horrible, horrible out-of-season Christmas.

Tuesday: Suburban residents will choose mayors in these runoff races:

• Alabaster: David Frings and Marty Handlon
• Brighton: Eddie Cooper and Barbara Watkins
• Fairfield: Kenneth Coachman and Fredrick “Rev. F.D.” Scott
• Helena: Mark Hall and Charles “Sonny” Penhale
• Irondale: Tommy Alexander and James Stewart Jr.
• Montevallo: Hollie Cost and Ben McCrory
• Tarrant: Joe Matthews and Loxcil Tuck
• Trafford: Clint Daniels and Robert Niblett

Also, city council runoff elections will take place in various suburbs.

The winners will be sworn in Nov. 5.

In a separate decision, Birmingham residents will vote on a $150 million bond for capital improvements.

Oct. 23: Another trip to the polls for Birminghamians to pick officers for the 99 neighborhood associations. The officers serve 2-year terms.

For more information on polling places, call the Mayor’s Office of Citizen’s Assistance, at (205) 254-2806. Or contact your neighborhood association president.

Polls will be open on both days from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

A select handful of Alabamians will go to the polls Tuesday to cast but a single vote.

The Legislature has a special election on Tuesday to allow voters to decide whether $437 million dollars should be transferred from the Alabama Trust Fund to the General Fund during the next 3 years. The money would cover a shortfall in the state’s operating budget for services such as prisons, courts and Medicaid.

The special election will cost $3 million. Voter turnout is expected to be extremely low.

Should the measure fail, Gov. Bentley has vowed to stand by his no taxes pledge, meaning severe cuts — up to 10 percent — across the board. The trust fund manages royalties from natural gas wells off the coast of Alabama. Its board has not taken a position on the vote.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Update Sept. 18: Measure passes by 2-to-1 margin.

Update Sept. 22: Voter turnout was around 22 percent. | Surprise: Passage seen as a win for Gov. Bentley.

Are you voting for or against the amendment? Tell us why in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

Voters cast ballots today despite some heavy rain from the approaching Hurricane Isaac.

Mayoral race winners from today for cities in Jefferson and Shelby Counties:

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Runoffs:

• Alabaster: David Frings and Marty Handlon
• Brighton: Eddie Cooper and Barbara Watkins
• Fairfield: Kenneth Coachman and Fredrick “Rev. F.D.” Scott
• Helena: Mark Hall and Charles “Sonny” Penhale
• Irondale: Tommy Alexander and James Stewart Jr.
• Leeds: David Miller and Eric Patterson (corrected Oct. 9)
• Montevallo: Hollie Cost and Ben McCrory
• Tarrant: Joe Matthews and Loxcil Tuck
• Trafford: Clint Daniels and Robert Niblett

Runoffs take place Oct. 9.

The general election takes place Nov. 6.

Updates to follow.

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

It wouldn’t be an election year without a lot of Election Days, and maybe a tropical storm coming in from the Gulf of Mexico.

Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday in 46 towns in Jefferson and Shelby Counties. Voters will select mayors and council members in these municipal races.

The precincts close at 7 p.m. Runoff races, if needed, will be held on Oct. 9.

Cities in Jefferson and Shelby Counties holding elections on Tuesday:

And for those still interested, the general election takes place Nov. 6.

Also:

• Birmingham News roundup
• Black and White has an interesting editorial on Homewood’s election buried in its bulky PDF edition. Sigh.

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

Photo: Liz West (CC)

Today’s runoff results from state and metro Birmingham races … (Primary results from March 13.)

More election coverage for Vote 2012.

The general election takes place Nov. 6.

Runoff results

Winner in red

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

Election results from today’s primaries in Alabama and the Birmingham metro area …

More election coverage in our Vote 2012 special report.

(Updating throughout the evening.)

Update March 14: Voter turnout statewide was around 30 percent.

The runoff takes place April 24.

Democrats

(Contested races only)

Winner in red | Runoff candidates in blue

Republicans

(Contested races only)

Winner in red | Runoff candidates in blue

Tweets

This just in on Twitter …

(Or visit the TweetGrid page.)

Facebook

Visit the Birmingham, Ala., page on Facebook.

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

Photo: Kevin Dooley (CC)

The polls are open! Vote before 7 tonight for candidates in national, state and local races.

Q: Where do I vote?

A: Call Jefferson County: (205) 325-5550, Jefferson County (Bessemer only): (205) 481-4105, Shelby County: (205) 669-3913.

Or Search Your Polling Place on AlabamaVotes.gov.

Wade on Birmingham:
primary election results tonight

Remember, if you have problems at your polling place:

• Notify a poll worker immediately.
• Call the state attorney general at 1-800-831-8814 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday or fill out this online form.
• Call the secretary of state at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683) or visit her site, StopVoterFraudNow.com.
• And tell the probate court for Jefferson County (205-325-5203) or Shelby County (205-669-3713).
• E-mail us at Vote2012[at]wadeonbirmingham.com.

Q: What can I expect to see on the ballots?

A: Check out these sample ballots for each county.

You’re voting for president, U.S. Representative, state and county officials.

Q: Who should I vote for?

A: Before you hit the voting booth, check out our roundup of newspaper endorsements from across Alabama.

Video: “NBC Nightly News” interviews voters in Birmingham.

Let us know where and when you voted, and how many votes were cast before yours.

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

Photo: Rob Boudon (CC)

Several Alabama newspaper editorial boards have made their endorsements for primary races, including president, congressional and state offices.

Before you hit the polls Tuesday, see which candidates earned plaudits and why.

• Birmingham News
• Daily Home (Talladega)
• Decatur Daily
• Opelika-Auburn News
• Selma Times-Journal
• TimesDaily (Florence): president | state supreme court and Public Service Commission

See sample ballots for the 2012 general election
for Jefferson and Shelby Counties.

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Spring is still a week away, but Alabama voters are headed to the polls extra early this year to pick their party candidates.

To help you see the full candidate list for your district, we’ve included sample ballots for Jefferson and Shelby Counties for the primaries. (The Jefferson County ballots, 11 pages and 36 pages, include versions for every district.)

Also included is the Alabama Voter Guide 2012, which has information on voting procedures and frequently asked questions.

For easier viewing, you can print, download or zoom to full screen with each ballot.

Primary elections take place Tuesday across the state.

• • •

Sample ballots for all 67 counties.

• • •

Jefferson County: Democratic ballot

Jefferson County: Republican ballot

Shelby County: Democratic ballot

Shelby County: Republican ballot

Alabama Voter Guide 2012

• • •

More Vote 2012 coverage.

From left, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum

Super Tuesday has come and gone without a definite frontrunner in the Republican presidential race. It has come down to the unlikeliest of election scenarios: Alabama matters.

And while it’s a given the Republican nominee will win the state in November, which one still remains up for grabs.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich visited Birmingham Wednesday, vowing to stay in the race despite his third place status in total delegates. The candidate from Georgia made stops at the Harbert Center and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. Update March 10: Gingirch will be at the Wynfrey Hotel at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Details on admission to be added. The event is free and open to the public.

This afternoon, Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania will appear at a rally at the Pelham Civic Center. The free event starts at 2 p.m. This morning, he’ll be at another rally at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, heading to Mobile tonight for a candidate forum. Santorum is in a distant second place.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will visit Friday in Tarrant. Currently leading in delegates, he will make a campaign stop at Thompson Tractor on Pinson Valley Parkway at 2 p.m.

Both Gingrich and Santorum will be back Monday for a free candidate forum at the Alabama Theatre downtown. Romney and Texas congressman Ron Paul have also been invited. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., with the event starting at 5:30.

Alabama’s primary will be Tuesday, with 50 delegates to be given proportionally (not winner take all).