Alabama voters will resolve races starting from U.S. Senate and governor to local offices in Tuesday’s election Polling places and registration status will be found on the secretary of state’s website, at https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview. Voter turnout is predicted to be moderate, in line with a projection by Secretary of State John Merrill. Polls open at 7 a.m. and shut at 7 p.m. Here’s a fast take a look at major statewide races and issues:
Republican Katie Britt faces Democratic nominee Will Boyd and Libertarian John Sophocleus within the race for the rare open Senate seat in Alabama. Britt is outgoing U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby’s former chief of staff and the previous leader of the Business Council of Alabama. Britt was endorsed by former President Donald Trump within the GOP primary and has emphasized border security, concern in regards to the national debt and a necessity for brand spanking new voices in Congress. Boyd, a pastor, supports Medicaid expansion and efforts to guard the Voting Rights Act. Sophocleus, a former college economics instructor at Auburn University, supports the abolishment of federal gun laws and the creation of a flat tax.
Republican Gov. Kay Ivey is trying to win a second full term in office as she faces Democrat Yolanda Flowers and Libertarian Jimmy Blake. Ivey avoided a runoff within the spring despite facing eight Republican challengers in the first. Flowers, an educator, is the primary Black woman to win a significant party’s gubernatorial nomination within the state. Blake is a physician and a former Birmingham City Council member.
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Republican Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth faces Libertarian Ruth Page-Nelson. There just isn’t a Democratic candidate within the race. The lieutenant governor presides over the Alabama Senate. Nevertheless, essentially the most notable thing in regards to the position is that the lieutenant governor becomes governor if the governor leaves office for any reason. Libertarians imagine the race is their strongest hope of hitting the 20% vote threshold needed to keep up ballot access in 2024.
Alabama will elect a recent person to the office that oversees elections. Republican Rep. Wes Allen faces Democrat Pamela Laffitte and Libertarian Matt Shelby. Allen, citing security concerns, opposes alternative technique of voting corresponding to curbside voting, mail-in voting or allowing people to vote absentee for any reason. Laffitte supports expanded methods, corresponding to early voting and no-excuse absentee voting, to make voting more convenient. Shelby supports changing Alabama’s stringent ballot access law that has made it difficult for third-party candidates to run. He also supports alternative systems corresponding to ranked-choice voting.
Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall faces Democrat Wendell Major. Marshall is searching for his second full term as Alabama attorney general. His campaign has emphasized his role in lawsuits difficult vaccine mandates and other policies of President Joe Biden’s administration. Major is the police chief of Tarrant. He has emphasized the necessity to deal with the state’s opioid crisis and mental health crisis.
— Within the state treasurer’s race, Republican incumbent Young Boozer faces Libertarian Scott Hammond.
— Within the state auditor’s race, Republican Andrew Sorrell faces Libertarian Leigh Lachine.
— Within the race for commissioner of agriculture and industries, Republican incumbent Rick Pate faces Libertarian Jason Clark
— Within the races for Public Service Commission, Republican incumbents Jeremy Oden and Chip Beeker face challenges from Libertarians Ron Bishop and Laura Lane.
— Within the race for Alabama Supreme Court, Place 5, Republican Greg Cook faces Democrat Anita Kelly.
Alabama voters will resolve whether to ratify the Alabama Structure of 2022 that removes racist language, corresponding to references to segregated schools and an interracial marriage ban. It also reorganizes the document, which has been amended nearly 1,000 times, to remove repealed provisions and make it more user-friendly. Nevertheless, it makes no changes to how government operates.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
There are 10 proposed statewide constitutional amendments. Those include Amendment 1, which might give judges more discretion to disclaim bail to people accused of violent crimes. Amendment 10 is a companion amendment to the ratification vote that may allow recent amendments to be placed throughout the document.
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