Runoff election voting begins soon

Published 3:00 am Friday, June 15, 2018

Although the majority of local primary races were decided on June 5, one local race still needs to be decided in addition to a regional and statewide runoff.

No district judge candidate was able to take a majority of the vote during the Republican primary, so the top two candidates have extended their campaigns seeking to win the Tuesday, July 17 runoff.

Local attorney Virginia Green Nowling came in behind Steven Curtis and January “Jana” Blair Ellis in the primary, so it will now come down to Curtis and Ellis. Curtis led the voting in the race.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Circuit Clerk Jamie Scarbrough said there will not be a Democratic runoff this year in Alabama, meaning that only those who voted in the Republican primary or did not vote at all can participate in the upcoming runoff.

Alabama passed a law in 201X that bans voters from voting in one party’s primary and the other primary’s runoff. Voters will be able to vote for any candidate in the general election.

In addition to the local district judge race, residents of Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes Pike County, have narrowed down the Republican race to incumbent Martha Roby and former representative Bobby Bright. Republican voters will get to choose between the two candidates during the runoff election.

The winner of that race will face Democratic nominee Tabitha Isner.

The ballot will also include a runoff for the lieutenant governor seat between Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh and Will Ainsworth.

For voters that were not registered during the primary but still want to vote, Scarborugh said registration for the runoff is open until July 2.

Absentee voting will also open as soon as the ballots are ready. Voters can apply for a ballot through the circuit clerk office until July 12.