Bill > SB42

This bill revises the procedures for municipal runoff elections in Alabama, clarifying how majorities are determined and how ties are resolved. Specifically, it amends existing law to allow municipal governing bodies to canvass election results before the first Tuesday after the election if provisional ballots have been certified or if none were cast, and it redefines "majority" for single-office elections and group elections to ensure a clearer path to victory. If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff election will be held on the fourth Tuesday after the regular election, featuring the top two vote-getters, with the winner being the one who receives the most votes in the runoff. The bill also addresses scenarios where a candidate withdraws or dies before a runoff, and outlines a process for resolving ties in runoff elections, first by the municipal governing body and then, if necessary, by the judge of probate or a designated circuit court judge, with specific disqualifications for judges who participated in campaigning. Finally, it mandates that municipal clerks file copies of election certificates with the judge of probate, the Secretary of State, and the Alabama League of Municipalities within 10 days of canvassing the results, and the act will take effect on June 1, 2026.

Government Affairs

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search