After one of the nation’s wildest Senate races in December, Alabama prepares to hit the polls again on Tuesday.
We have the sample ballots for Jefferson and Shelby Counties for the primaries. (The Jefferson County ballot has 99 versions, one for every sub-district.)
Multiple Alabama voters got this email this afternoon from AL Democratic Party: “Make a plan and vote tomorrow.”
State party tells me this email was sent yesterday and they’re checking what’s going on. They said 2 new emails were sent today saying today is Election Day. #ALSenpic.twitter.com/MppiIptcoy
This year the Trumpiest of the Trump states gave @realDonaldTrump two losses. First, he backed Strange and Moore won, then he backed Moore and Jones won.
What was once a sleepy December special election to fill a vacant Senate seat in a deep red state has turned into a national referendum on political parties, sexual harassment and the Trump agenda. Merry Christmas, Alabama.
It all started a month ago with a bombshell Washington Post report citing several Gadsden women approached as teenagers for dates while Roy Moore was in his early 30s. One woman accused him of sexual assault. Moore is the twice-elected, twice-removed Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice on the Republican ticket.
National media, pundits, celebrities and at least one late night talk show host have descended on this one-race ballot for 4 weeks. Money has flooded in, turning a surefire Republican victory into a free-for-all, complete with nonstop commercials, flyers, rallies, high-profile interlopers and poll after poll after poll.
Alabama has had an interesting fall.
Oh, and Doug Jones is running for the Democrats. Almost forgot.
At least in 12 hours, this will all be over (save for any voting machine malfunctions, calls for recount or nuclear war).
The polls are open: Voting takes place till 7 p.m. for this one race.
Q: Where do I vote?
A: Call Jefferson County: (205) 325-5550, Jefferson County (Bessemer only): (205) 481-4105, Shelby County: (205) 669-3913.
More election coverage in our Vote 2017 special report.
(Updating throughout the evening.)
If needed, the runoff takes place Sept. 26.
Voter turnout statewide was 18 percent; in Jefferson County, 17 percent; in Shelby County, 21 percent. Compare that to the March 2016 primary — the most recent one with a Senate race — to 41 percent statewide, 43 percent in Jefferson County and 50 percent in Shelby County.
President Trump picked Jeff Sessions to lead the Department of Justice earlier this year. Then-Gov. Bentley picked Alabama attorney general Luther Strange to fill his Senate seat until someone called a special election.
We dumped Bentley, and successor Gov. Kay Ivey put this election on the calendar.
Which leads us to today’s special primary.
A mere 16 men and one woman vie for the party nominations. This will be the first primary in which no party crossover voting is allowed between the primary and possible runoff on Sept. 26.
The polls are open: Voting takes place till 7 p.m. for this one race.
Q: Where do I vote?
A: Call Jefferson County: (205) 325-5550, Jefferson County (Bessemer only): (205) 481-4105, Shelby County: (205) 669-3913.
Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey becomes second female governor of Alabama
Booking page for Robert Bentley at the
Montgomery County Jail
Two-term and two-timing governor Robert Bentley was booked at the Montgomery County Jail this afternoon for campaign finance misdemeanors. He then resigned from office.
This morning, the House had begun impeachment hearings on Bentley, following the release of a committee report detailing numerous alleged incidents around the governor and an affair with his aide Rebekah Mason, one that ended his 50-year marriage to Dianne Bentley in 2015.
Among the cataloged misdeeds were bullying staff members, using the state plane for private getaways, illicit texting, ordering law enforcement officers to cover up the scandal and altering public records.
As part of a deal, Bentley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 30-day suspended jail sentence, 12 months probation, surrender of $36,912 in campaign funds, about $16,000 in fines and 100 hours of community service. He forfeits all retirement benefits and cannot run for public office again.
Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, pictured above, will now finish out the term. The next gubernatorial election is in 2018.
It’s been a busy 11 months for Montgomery. In May, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was removed from office for a second time. For this incident, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary suspended him for ethics code violations in regards to enforcing federal rulings on same-sex marriage.
In June, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard was found guilty of violating state ethics rules — including ones he implemented — and later sentenced to 4 years in prison, 8 years probation and a $210,000 fine.
Our long national nightmare is almost over. As Election Day 2016 winds down, we present the results from today’s races in Alabama and the Birmingham metro area.
More election coverage in our Vote 2016 special report.
Updated Nov. 9: Voter turnout statewide was 61.97 percent.
(Updating throughout the evening.)
(Contested races only)
D = Democrat | I = incumbent | R = Republican
Winner in red
National/state
Local
Amendments
Tweets
This just in on Twitter …
Every time I voted today, I saw no instances of voter fraud.
The State of Alabama reprinted 2.7 million ballots earlier this month after omitting language from one of the 14(!) amendments up for our consideration; Secretary of State John Merrill said he didn’t know what the blunder cost.
Anyway, download your sample ballot for Jefferson or Shelby County for the Nov. 8 general election. Good luck, Jefferson County residents: The 364-page PDF contains 91(!!) versions of the four-page ballot to correspond with various overlaps in federal, state, county and city districts.
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.
To be eligible to vote on Nov. 8, citizens must register by Monday. How to register to vote.
A handful of voters will visit the polls next week to decide the runoff races in Alabama. Some districts — but not all — in the 41 counties holding runoff elections will have contests.
Sample ballots for Jefferson and Shelby Counties are included below. Birmingham Watch has a guide to the remaining candidates in Birmingham-area races.
For easier viewing, you can download or zoom to full screen with the embedded Jefferson County Democratic runoff ballot.
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