Video: Halloween 2020 … yay

Happy Halloween!

A look at Birmingham in videos …

Birmingham 2022 World Games to hold opening and closing ceremonies at Protective Stadium in Uptown. From Alabama NewsCenter.

More videos, after the jump …

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A look at Birmingham in videos …

Homeless vlog from Eastwood (our vertical video of the week). From Ispinternet11.

More videos, after the jump …

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A look at Birmingham in videos …

A September online concert as part of the Birmingham New Music Festival, featuring Adam Bowles, piano; Sarah Nordlund Dennis, violin; Laura Usiskin, cello; and Pei-Ju Wu, violin. From Birmingham Art Music Alliance.

More videos, after the jump …

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A look at Birmingham in videos …

Dash cam footage of Birmingham to Montgomery. From Kenny Ram Dash Cam.

More videos, after the jump …

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Runoff races took place around the state today. Here are the results from Birmingham-area mayoral races:

• Center Point: Bobby Scott;
• Columbiana: David Mitchell;
• Fairfield: Eddie Penny;
• Homewood: Patrick McClusky.

The U.S. general election takes place Nov. 3.

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More Vote 2020 coverage.

Fifteen years ago today marked my first foray into blogging. On this very site, some 7,000 posts ago.

Birmingham has come a long way since 2005, as have I, your humble blogger. I’m proud of the city as it stands in 2020, even if we still struggle with our place in the world.

And 2020 has been hard on all of us. Loved ones laid out by COVID-19, jobs lost, businesses too. Not to mention our fraying mental health in quarantine, our fight to show Black Lives Matter, our daily battle to contain the coronavirus.

Oh, and making sure we can vote and vote safely.

Today is an Election Day for most towns across Alabama, a runoff race for the offices of city council and mayor. Elections are one of the few reasons I do extra coverage on this site, and we’ll have results posted after poll close this evening.

I spun off all the daily haiku in 2019 from this site to, appropriately enough, Wade’s Daily Haiku. I took the #Sundayread recommendations in 2019 to, well, Sundayread.org. At least I left the funny and weird videos on the weekly Birmingham channel post.

I still love Wade on Birmingham, blogging and the few who are still blogging out there. Maybe I’ve got another 15 years in me. And I’ve entered a new phase of my own: On Monday, I started working as a data analyst after training for a few months at the Innovate Birmingham boot camp this year.

We can always grow. We can always become better. Thank you, whether you’ve been a loyal reader over the years or a first-time visitor.

Stay strong, stay safe.

We have two local elections this month …

Tuesday: Residents will pick mayors in these runoffs from August’s municipal elections:

• Center Point: Tom Henderson and Bobby Scott;
• Columbiana: David Mitchell and Teresa A. Whiting;
• Fairfield: Eddie Penny and Michael Williams;
• Homewood: Chris M. Lane and Patrick McClusky.

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

Oct. 20: Birmingham residents will vote for officers of the 99 neighborhood associations. The officers serve 2-year terms.

For more information on polling places, call Community Resource Services at (205) 297-8192. Or contact your neighborhood association president.

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

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More Vote 2020 coverage.

One month and 1 day till Election Day.

• If you’re not registered to vote, you have until Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. Register online with the State of Alabama. Register in person at:

• local boards of registrars,
• state and county offices that provide public assistance,
• driver’s license renewal offices,
• county library branches
• and some city library branches.

Note: Many of these locations may be closed to the public or open limited hours because of COVID-19, so call ahead.

Call the Secretary of State at 800-274-8683 for additional information.

• We have the sample ballots for Jefferson and Shelby Counties for the primaries. (The Jefferson County ballot has 87 versions, one for every sub-district.)

Find your polling place/districts.

The ballot has federal, state and county offices, along with six state amendments (Fox 6 has more info on what the amendments mean). And check out the Alabama Voter Guide 2020, with voting procedures and frequently asked questions.

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

Absentee voting

Because of COVID-19, the State of Alabama will allow any registered voter to vote early by absentee ballot. I voted in person on Wednesday in under 30 minutes.

Download, print and fill out an absentee ballot application. These forms are also available at courthouses in every county. Applications must be submitted by Oct. 29.

The Secretary of State says to check the following box as the reason for the absentee ballot: “I have a physical illness or infirmity which prevents my attendance at the polls. [ID Required]”

If you mail it in …

• Make sure to use both envelopes provided.
• Have your witnesses sign it.
• Put proper postage.
• Have it postmarked by Nov. 2 (the day before Election Day). Try to mail it earlier, given the Trump-directed slower mail service.

If you want to vote in person …

• I went to the Jefferson County Courthouse downtown, Room 500. Remember: Security will scan you and your bag at the door.
• Some other voters may be seated in the hallway waiting their turn.
• Give your completed, signed absentee ballot application to one of the clerks.
• They will call you in when it’s your turn and guide you through each step.
• Last day to vote by absentee ballot is Nov. 2 (the day before Election Day).

Election Day is Nov. 3.

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Sample ballots for all 67 counties.

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Jefferson County

[Mobile version]

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Shelby County

[Mobile version]

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Alabama Voter Guide 2020

[Mobile version]

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Today was my Election Day. I filled out an absentee ballot form, went to the Jefferson Co. Courthouse this morning and voted in about 20 minutes. The staff couldn't have been nicer and walked me through each step.

If you want to vote early, now's your chance, #Bham. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/UfF4YGPJPr

— Wade Kwon, Data Guru (@WadeOnTweets) September 30, 2020

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More Vote 2020 coverage.