County’s Dems – all 420 – can’t vote in runoff
Published 2:19 am Wednesday, September 20, 2017
The 420 Covington Countians who cast ballots as Democrats in Alabama’s August primaries for its open U.S. Senate seat will not be allowed to vote in the Republican Runoff election between incumbent Luther Strange and Roy Moore next Tuesday.
The state’s new Crossover Voting Law, which took effect on August 1, 2017, provides that if an elector votes in a primary election, he or she may only vote in the subsequent runoff election of the same political party.
“Because this is a Republican Runoff Election, only electors that voted in the Republican Pri-mary Elec-tion or who did not vote in the pri-mary elec-tion are allowed to vote,” Probate Judge Stacy Brooks said. “If some-one voted in the Demo-cratic Primary Election on Aug. 15, 2017, they are not allowed to cross over and vote in the Republican Runoff Election.”
Brooks said the voter’s list at each precinct will indicate the party preference for each individual who voted in the primary election. If the list indicates that the elector voted in the Democratic Primary, they are not allowed to vote in the Republican Runoff Election. If the list indicates that the elector voted in the Republican Primary or if there is no political party designation for the elector, the elector may vote in the Republican Runoff Election.
Moore led in August, both statewide and in Covington County. But the Strange campaign has spent millions on advertising, and polls show him closing the gap between them.
There are two major cam-paign events sche-duled this week.
First, Strange and Moore will debate on Thursday in Montgomery. The event is set for 5:30 p.m. at the RSA Activity Center, 201 Dexter Ave., Mont-gomery.
The event will be a “Lin-coln-Douglas style” format with five minutes each to discuss issues. The debate will consist of one five-minute opening, one five-minute closing and each candidate will have five-minute statements and rebuttals alternatively. A timekeeper will be supplied by Troy University. There is no moderator, and no one from the public or the press will be able to ask questions. One representative from each campaign will determine the stage and seating logistics. Costs will be shared equally by both campaigns.
On Friday, President Donald Trump, who has endorsed Strange, will campaign for him in Huntsville.
The Republican Runoff election is Tues., Sept. 26, 2017. The polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
The winner will face Democratic nominee Doug Jones on Dec. 12.