Hale County voters will head to the polls Tuesday, May 19, for the Alabama statewide primary election, with contested local races for county commission, sheriff, and Democratic executive committee seats alongside a full slate of state and federal contests and two proposed constitutional amendments.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A valid photo ID is required to vote. Voters without ID may cast a provisional ballot and have until 5 p.m. on the Friday following the election to present valid identification to the Board of Registrars.
The deadline to register to vote has passed. The deadline to submit an absentee ballot application in person is Thursday, May 14. Absentee ballots returned in person must be received by the close of business Monday, May 18. Absentee ballots returned by mail must arrive no later than noon on Election Day. Contact the Hale County Circuit Clerk’s office for absentee voting information.
Alabama is an open primary state, meaning voters may choose either party’s primary ballot, but voters who participate in a primary must vote in the same party’s runoff if one is held. Voters who do not wish to participate in either party’s primary may request a ballot containing only the two constitutional amendments.
One significant complication faces voters this year. Hale County is in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, represented by U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, and that race will appear on primary ballots Tuesday, but the results will not count.
Following a U.S. Supreme Court order issued Monday allowing the state to revert to a 2023 congressional map, Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special primary for the 7th District and three other congressional districts on Aug. 11. Secretary of State Wes Allen said votes in the affected races on May 19 will be tabulated and made public but will be void for purposes of determining the party nominee. The special primary will not include a runoff. All other races on the May 19 ballot will proceed normally.
Both parties will nominate candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and U.S. Senate. The governor’s race is open with incumbent Kay Ivey term-limited, and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is running for governor rather than seeking re-election to the Senate, leaving that seat open as well.
Democratic Ballot
On the Democratic ballot, the governor’s race features six candidates: Will Boyd, Jamel J. Brown, Yolanda Rochelle Flowers, Doug Jones, Chad “Chig” Martin, and Nathan “Nate” Mathis.
The lieutenant governor’s race features Phillip Ensler and Darryl D. Perryman.
The U.S. Senate race has four candidates: Dakarai Larriett, Kyle Sweetser, Everett Wess, and Mark S. Wheeler II.
Republican Ballot
On the Republican ballot, three candidates are seeking the governor’s nomination: Ken McFeeters, Will Santivasci, and Tommy Tuberville.
Six candidates are running for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination: Seth Burton, Dale Shelton Deas Jr., Jared Hudson, Steve Marshall, Barry Moore, and Rodney Walker.
Republican voters will also choose nominees for attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, state auditor, and commissioner of agriculture and industries. Both parties will nominate candidates for Public Service Commission Place No. 1, and Republicans will also nominate a candidate for Place No. 2.
State Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, is unopposed for his state Senate seat and will not appear on the primary ballot.
Constitutional Amendments
Two statewide constitutional amendments will appear on all ballots.
Amendment 1 would expand the list of offenses for which a judge may deny bail to include solicitation, attempt, or conspiracy to commit murder, as well as shooting or discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling. The amendment builds on the Aniah’s Law provisions approved by voters in 2022.
Amendment 2 would prohibit the state from reducing a district attorney’s compensation during his or her term of office.
Local Democratic Races
Locally, on the Democratic ballot, Sheriff Michael Hamilton is seeking re-election, as are Coroner Eric A. Wiggins and Revenue Commissioner Andretta Skipper.
Three Hale County Commission seats will appear on the ballot. In District 1, Jonathan Rossell has qualified for the Democratic nomination. District 4 features a contested Democratic race between Charles Patrick and Patti Rhodes.
The Hale County Board of Education District 1 seat is on the ballot, with Kaleda Williams-Zanders qualifying on the Democratic side.
Democratic voters will also elect members of the Hale County Democratic Executive Committee. Contested races include:
- District 1 male seat: Robert L. Alston, Eddie Blocker, and Abraham Patrick
- District 2 male seat: Norman Hunter and Willie J. Hudson
- District 3 female seat: Lorrie P. Cook and Gay Nell Singleton
- District 4 female seat: Jacqueline Hoskins and Yolanda Ash-Watkins
Local Republican Races
On the Republican ballot, incumbent Commissioner Don Wallace is running for re-election in District 1, and Beatrice Nichols has qualified for the District 4 commission race.
Brooke Seale McCrory is seeking the Board of Education District 1 seat, and Kevin McDaniel has qualified to run for sheriff.
Runoff and General Election Dates
If no candidate in a contested race receives a majority on May 19, the top two vote-getters will meet in a primary runoff on Tuesday, June 16. The voter registration deadline for the runoff is Monday, June 1.
The special congressional primary for the 7th District is set for Monday, Aug. 11. Winners in both parties will advance to the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Sample ballots, precinct information, and voting details are available from the Hale County Probate Office and at sos.alabama.gov.
