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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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More Vote 2012 coverage.

Photo: Liz West (CC)

Online reaction to previews of a new look to Alabama’s biggest website

al.com 2012 front page redesign

Online reaction to previews of a new look to Alabama’s biggest website.

Storified by Wade Kwon · Wed, May 23 2012 18:02:40

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Sample ballots for all 67 counties.

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Jefferson County: Democratic ballot

Jefferson County: Republican ballot

Shelby County: Democratic ballot

Shelby County: Republican ballot

Alabama Voter Guide 2012

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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).

Video: Alabama coach Nick Saban discusses his team’s
trip to the BCS National Championship Game.

In the 2009 season, it was Alabama. In the 2010 season, Auburn.

And this year, Alabama again plays for the national championship. The Tide faces LSU in a rematch, or perhaps, grudge match. Alabama lost to LSU 9-6 in overtime on Nov. 5.

No. 1 LSU was a lock for the game at a perfect 13-0. Alabama (11-1) waited until Sunday’s official announcement, just edging out No. 3 Oklahoma State in the BCS rankings. LSU beat Georgia Saturday 42-10 for the SEC Championship, while Alabama’s last game was the Iron Bowl, beating Auburn 42-14 on Nov. 26.

No matter who wins, the SEC will take home the national title for the sixth consecutive year. Auburn won the 2010 title, while Alabama won the 2009.

The game airs at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 on ESPN, in 3D where available.

• Heisman finalists will be announced tonight, and expected to make the short list is Trent Richardson, running back at Alabama. Mark Ingram won it at Alabama in 2009. Update: It’s official, as Richardson will be competing against Tyrann Mathieu of LSU, Andrew Luck of Stanford, Montee Ball of Wisconsin and Robert Griffin III of Baylor.

• Other bowl games:

• Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Virginia (8-4) will face No. 25 Auburn (7-5) on New Year’s Eve in Atlanta.
• BBVA Compass Bowl: Southern Methodist (7-5) will head to Birmingham for the Jan. 7 game, thanks to the SEC pulling out of the bowl this year, opening a slot for a Conference USA team. SMU will face Pitt (6-6) representing the Big East. Pitt defeated Kentucky this year at the first BBVA Compass Bowl.

• UAB finished its season 3-9, leading to the firing of coach Neil Callaway and Sunday’s hire of Garrick McGee, Arkansas’ offensive coordinator, as his successor.

• Hoover, the only Birmingham-area team to play in the state finals, lost to Prattville 35-34 Friday in Tuscaloosa.

Other state teams headed to bowls; high school champions crowned

Video: Auburn coach Gene Chizik and Oregon coach
Chip Kelly look ahead to the big game.

Auburn has had a perfect season, looking to cap it with a couple of important victories.

• First, Heisman Trophy finalists will be announced at 5 tonight, and quarterback Cam Newton is considered the one to beat this year. The winner will be announced at 7 p.m. Saturday on ESPN. Should Newton succeed, he’ll be Auburn’s third Heisman winner after QB Pat Sullivan in 1971 and running back Bo Jackson in 1985. It would also move Auburn up to a five-way tie for fourth place among all-time Heismans by school. Update: Newton is one of four Heisman finalists, along with LaMichael James, running back for Oregon.

• Second, the No. 1 Tigers head to Glendale, Ariz., to take on No. 2 Oregon on Jan. 10 in the BCS National Championship Game. Auburn earned its trip after crushing South Carolina 56-17 in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday. This marks the Tigers’ first appearance in the BCS title game and the school’s shot at a second national championship, the first in 1957. The game airs at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN and in 3D where available.

See Auburn’s SEC victory across
newspaper front pages from Alabama.

Other bowl games announced Sunday (all airing on ESPN):

• R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Troy (7-5) takes on Ohio (8-4) at 8 p.m. Dec. 18 in the Superdome. It’s the Trojans’ third trip to the New Orleans Bowl.
• Capital One Bowl: BCS No. 16 Alabama (9-3) faces BCS No. 9 Michigan State (11-1) at noon on New Year’s Day in Orlando. Alabama’s Nick Saban coached at Michigan State from 1995 to 1999; the Spartans’ coach, Mark Dantonio, was an assistant coach under Saban at that time. The two teams have not played against each other, and are scheduled for games in 2016 and 2017.
• BBVA Compass Bowl: Kentucky (6-6) meets Pittsburgh (7-5) at 11 a.m. Jan. 8 at Legion Field. The Wildcats make their fifth straight bowl appearance, with just two SEC wins this season.

Plus, the schedule and the networks for all 35 bowl games.

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The AHSAA Super 6 football championships featured three teams from the Birmingham area. The Thursday and Friday results from Auburn:

• 6A: Daphne 7, Hoover 6
• 5A: Spanish Fort 14, Briarwood Christian 0
• 3A: Leeds 42, Hamilton 32

The Green Wave of Leeds won its second title, its first recently in 2008. All six games are available for viewing online.

Robert and Dianne Bentley on Election Day.

The mandate from Alabama’s voters on Election Day could not be more clear: Turn everything, and I mean everything, over to the Republicans for at least the next 2 years.

Let them screw things up for awhile.

The Democrats have screwed up plenty in the previous 136 years, and really, could the GOP do much worse? Alabama continues to trail in health, per capita income, transportation, education, crime, your category here. If this red state becomes any redder, you’d hope it would be from embarrassment rather than another shift to the right.

Not that conservatives haven’t been in control since the days of the Gipper. Essentially, most state races came down to the conservative Democrat or Republican since Ronald Reagan entered the White House. Which flavor of conservative suits you best?

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Winners and losers from Tuesday
around Alabama and metro Birmingham.

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So while the brand names may change, what can we really expect from the Republicans in power?

The new crew, including Gov.-elect Robert Bentley, has promised ethics reform out of the gate. We shall see, though my cynical side expects only token changes. Politicians are politicians after all, and you can hardly expect Republicans to clean up the cesspool in Montgomery if it also hides their fattened pockets.

Look back a mere month, and relive that infamous day when the FBI arrested four state senators (two Democrats, one Republican, one independent) in connection with selling votes on a gambling bill. Alas, the bingo bots and the mafia will have to try again in 2 to 4 years.

The mandate must include more jobs and a better economy. Like the president, the governor will likely receive an undue share of the credit or blame, though one leader has little say in global economic dynamics. Still, continuing to attract industry must remain a priority.

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More Vote 2010 coverage.

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With an all-Republican government, are we headed for sideshows popular in Texas and Arizona, from illegal immigration to revising school textbooks to repealing national health care? Let’s hope not, with more pressing issues such as constitutional reform and education funding.

Er, scratch that. Forget constitutional reform for at least another 4 years (sigh) and don’t hold your breath for an education miracle, though Gov.-elect Bentley has vowed to switch to a budget that determined by the previous year’s numbers (holds breath anyway). He took money from the Alabama Education Association and later lied about it. Such petty sins aren’t enough to keep you out of the governor’s mansion; likely, they are the only path to it.

Just imagine if it had been the learned Bradley Byrne had led the Republican charge instead.

Rural voters swept the new legislators into power and didn’t much care for the citified Byrne. City folk aren’t well represented in the new Republican regime. As a member of the city folk, I cast a wary eye at my country cousins calling the shots, probably no less menacingly then they’ve eyed us with suspicion.

They found a kindred spirit in Bentley, the dermatologist from Tuscaloosa. As he leads a unified party and state government, let’s pray feverishly that it marks the start of 136 years of progress and prosperity.

Otherwise, red state Alabama could end up dead state Alabama.

Wade Kwon is publisher of Wade on Birmingham.

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More post-election thoughts:

• Second Front: “The GOP Agenda: ethics reform, redistricting”
• Flashpoint: “Alabama Beat Down”
• Doc’s Political Parlor: “Who Had a Good Election Night? A Bad Night?”
• Left in Alabama: “Election Day Winners & Losers – Alabama Edition”
• The World Around You: “Can the Alabama Democratic Party Return to its Promise?”
• Birmingham News: “OUR VIEW: This time around, Democrats took it on the chin for control of the Alabama Legislature; now, Republicans must govern”
• Opelika-Auburn News: “Jennifer Foster: Newly-elected Republicans need to ‘proceed with caution'”

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What can we expect from the Republicans in charge? Tell us in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

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

More election coverage in our Vote 2010 special report.

(Updating throughout the evening.)

(Contested races only)

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

How did we do on our Facebook election predictions? Out of 13 races, nine predicted correctly for a 69.2 percent rate of accuracy.

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More Vote 2010 coverage.