Voters must stick with 1 party for primary, runoff

Alabamians voting in Tuesday’s party primaries for the U.S. Senate nomination will be subject to new crossover voting rules, Probate Judge Stacy Brooks reminded voters this week.

The new law passed by the Alabama Legislature this year became effective this month, and prohibits crossover voting in party primaries.

According to Act #2017-340, Section 2A, which became effective Aug. 1, if an elector votes in a primary election, he or she may vote in a subsequent primary runoff election only if he or she voted in the primary election of the same political party for which the runoff election is being held. For example, if you vote in the Republican Primary Election, you may only vote in the Republican Run-off Election. Likewise, if you vote in the Democratic Primary Election, you may only vote in the Democratic Run-off Election.

However, the rules do not prohibit a voter who does not cast a ballot in the primary election from voting in a primary run-off election.

“Under the new law, no cross over voting is allowed in the state,” explained Probate Judge Stacy Brooks. “If someone votes in a political party’s primary election, they can only vote in a runoff election for that same party. Those who did not vote in a primary election may choose either party’s ballot in a runoff election.”

The Cross-Over Rule starts over with each election cycle and only applies to Primary and Primary Run-off Elections. It does not apply to a General Election.

Brooks said that, as in the past, voters will “sign in” to receive a Republican or Democratic ballot in the primary.

“The Board of Registrars will keep this information for the runoff election,” Brooks said. “The voters list for the runoff election will indicate which party’s ballot the voter should receive.”

The Primary Run-off Election is scheduled for Sept. 26, 2017, and the General Election is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2017.