Election information: General election will be held November 5
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
With the general election now only a month away, sample ballots are available, and it is a good time for voters to keep in mind important election dates and information.
When visiting the polls, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. November 5, voters have the option of voting a straight-party ticket for the Democratic or Republican Party or voting for individual candidates. Voters will also have the opportunity to vote for a write-in candidate if they so choose.
Offices that will be on the Coosa County ballot include the president and vice president, U.S. representative for the 6th Congressional District, chief justice of the Supreme Court, associate justices of the Supreme Court, judges for the Court of Civil Appeals, judges for the Court of Criminal Appeals, president of the Public Service Commission, member for the State Board of Education District 3, Circuit Court judge for the 40th Judicial Circuit, circuit clerk, county judge of probate, Coosa County Board of Education superintendent, and county constables.
For the constable offices, many precincts have write-in options only, with no candidate appearing on the ballot. Of the 19 constable positions appearing on various county ballots, only six have candidates listed on the ballot for that precinct, and all of those six are running unopposed.
Also at the local level, incumbent elected officials who are running unopposed are Circuit Judge David Law, Judge of Probate Richard Dean and Superintendent of Education. Jamey Johnson, who won the Republican primary election for circuit clerk, is also running unopposed.
The general election ballot also includes one proposed statewide amendment, which is specifically related to the Franklin County School System and Board of Education.
The proposed amendment reads, “Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to grant certain sixteenth section and indemnity school lands that are owned in fee simple by the Franklin County School System, are located in Fayette County and Walker County, and are for the exclusive use of schools in the Franklin County School System to the Franklin County Board of Education; and to provide for the distribution of any proceeds and interest generated by this land. (Proposed by Act 2024-301.)”
The plain language summary of the proposed statewide amendment explains that in the 1800s Congress granted each township in the state certain land designated as “sixteenth section lands” and “indemnity lands” for the benefit of schools. Money earned from those lands is dedicated to the support and maintenance of public schools in the state.
Currently, the Franklin County School System owns some sixteenth section lands and indemnity lands that are located in Fayette and Walker counties.
The summary reads, “This amendment will transfer ownership rights of those lands to the Franklin County Board of Education. Upon approval, the amendment will provide that any money earned from the lease or sale of the lands or its natural resources will be paid to the Franklin County Board of Education. Money currently held in trust by the State of Alabama prior to the approval of this amendment will continue to be held in trust and any money earned from those transactions will continue to be paid to the Franklin County Board of Education.”
There are no costs or taxes related to Amendment 1. Voters have the option of voting yes or no on the amendment, or to skip voting on the proposed amendment.
If a majority of voters statewide vote “yes” on Amendment 1, the Alabama Constitution will be changed, and if the majority votes “no” then the Alabama Constitution will not be changed.
For those who are eligible and have not yet registered to vote, there is still time. The last day to register to vote in the general election is October 21.
Alabama citizens may register to vote or update their voter registration online at alabamavotes.gov; by using the Vote for Alabama app; when applying for or renewing their driver’s license or non-driver ID card; at state and local government offices when applying for or recertifying SNAP, TANF, Food Stamps, WIC, Medicaid, and other services; at military recruiting stations; at the Board of Registrars office located within the county seat of the voter’s county of residence; by a mail-in form available at probate judge and license commissioner offices, colleges, universities, public schools, or libraries; by downloading a voter registration form from the secretary of state’s website at alabamavotes.gov and mailing it to the local Board of Registrars office; or by requesting a mail-in registration form be mailed to you by contacting the Elections Division at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683) and mailing it to the local Board of Registrars office.
Other important deadlines to note for next month’s general election is that October 29 is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail, October 31 is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot in person, November 4 is the last day to hand deliver an absentee ballot, and absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by noon on November 5.
If a registered voter’s name is not on the voter list when they visit the polls, the poll worker will contact the county Board of Registrars to determine if the individual is eligible to vote at that polling place. If the Board of Registrars is unable to verify the person’s voter registration then the voter may vote a provisional ballot.
The provisional ballot will be counted if the county Board of Registrars is able to confirm that the person casting the ballot is a duly qualified elector of the polling place where the ballot was cast.
Registered voters are also required to show a valid photo ID at the polls in order to vote. However, a voter who does not have a valid form of photo ID on Election Day can still vote a regular ballot if their name appears on the official voters list and if they are positively identified by at least two election officials.
If the voter does not have a valid form of photo ID and cannot be positively identified by at least two election officials then they can vote a provisional ballot. The voter then has until 5 p.m. on the Friday following the election to submit a valid form of photo ID to the Board of Registrars.
If a proper photo ID is submitted by the deadline then the ballot will be counted as long as all other requirements were met.
Other reasons a voter may cast a provisional ballot is if their absentee ballot was never received or no photo ID was included with the absentee ballot application.
Prior to receiving a provisional ballot, a voter will need to sign an affidavit attesting to their eligibility to vote and complete a voter update form. Provisional ballots are placed in a separate secure ballot box from regular ballots.
Following the general election, the election night returns will begin that same evening, with returns normally starting to arrive about 7:30 p.m. at the courthouse and continuing for a few hours until all returns are received. The main upstairs courtroom of the courthouse will be open for candidates and citizens to watch the election results as they arrive from each polling location.
Provisional ballots are counted a week later, with the election results being certified following that. At 12 p.m. on November 12, the Coosa County Canvassing Board will meet to count all provisional ballots certified by the Board of Registrars, as well as county any UOCAVA, or Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, ballots postmarked by Election Day and received by noon on November 12.
In Coosa County, other important dates related to the general election include the polling officials election training on October 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the courthouse and the testing of the election machines on October 28 at the Coosa County E-911 building.
An official notice for the offices and subjects to appear on the Coosa County ballots will run in next week’s edition of “The Coosa County News,” and once appointed, a list of the election workers and polling facilities will also be published in a future edition.
For more information on the general election, visit www.alabamavotes.gov, or contact Judge of Probate Richard Dean at 256-377-4919 or the Coosa County Board of Registrars at 256-377-2418.
