Four statewide amendments and the governor’s race also before voters Tuesday, Nov. 3
Hale County voters will choose a sheriff, two county commissioners and a school board member Tuesday, Nov. 3, along with a governor, a U.S. senator and the rest of the statewide ticket, and will vote on four proposed amendments to the state constitution.
Sheriff Michael Hamilton, a Democrat, faces Republican Kevin McDaniel.
In County Commission District 1, Commissioner Don Wallace, a Republican, faces Democrat Jonathan Rossell. The District 4 seat is open: Commissioner Patti Rhodes lost the Democratic primary in May to Charles Patrick, who faces Republican Beatrice Nichols.
Democrat Kaleda Williams-Zanders and Republican Brooke Seale McCrory are running for District 1 on the Hale County Board of Education, a seat held by Christopher Carter, who is not on the ballot.
Revenue Commissioner Andretta Skipper, a Democrat, is unopposed, as are Democrat Eric A. Wiggins for coroner, state Sen. Bobby Singleton in District 24, state Rep. Curtis L. Travis in District 72 and Yvette M. Richardson for District 4 on the State Board of Education.
In the 7th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, a Democrat, faces Republican Ammie Akin.
At the top of the ballot, Democrat Doug Jones, a former U.S. senator, and Republican Tommy Tuberville, the state’s senior U.S. senator, are running for governor to succeed Gov. Kay Ivey, who is term-limited. Democrat Phillip Ensler, a state representative from Montgomery, and Republican John Wahl, the former state party chairman, are running for lieutenant governor, and Democrat Everett Wess, a Birmingham attorney, and U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, a Republican, for the Senate seat Tuberville is giving up.
Democrat Jeff McLaughlin and Republican Katherine Robertson are running for attorney general and Democrat Wayne Rogers and Republican Caroleene Dobson for secretary of state, both open seats. Democrat Rosilyn Houston faces State Treasurer Young Boozer, a Republican, and Democrat Violet Edwards faces State Auditor Andrew Sorrell, a Republican. Democrat Ron Sparks, who was commissioner of agriculture and industries from 2003 to 2011, and Republican Corey Hill, the mayor of Douglas, are running for that office.
On the Public Service Commission, where the incumbents in both places on the ballot lost Republican primaries this year, Democrat James O. Gordon and Republican Matt Gentry, the Cullman County sheriff, are running for Place 1 and Democrat Sheila D. McNeil and Republican Jim Zig Zeigler, the former state auditor, for Place 2.
Of the six appellate court seats on the ballot, only Supreme Court Place 8 is contested, between Democrat AshLeigh Meyer Dunham and Justice Greg Shaw, a Republican. Republicans Brad Mendheim for Supreme Court Place 7, Benjamin M. Bowden and Matt Fridy for Places 4 and 5 on the Court of Civil Appeals, and Mary Windom and Riggs Walker for Places 4 and 5 on the Court of Criminal Appeals are unopposed.
Four proposed amendments to the Alabama Constitution are on every ballot in the state. The Fair Ballot Commission’s statements on them, posted at AlabamaVotes.gov, say none of the four carries a cost or a tax. A yes vote changes the constitution; a no vote leaves it as it is.
Amendment 1 concerns the office of lieutenant governor. Under current law, if the office becomes vacant during a term, it generally stays vacant until the next regular election for it. The amendment would require an election to fill the office for the rest of the term if the vacancy comes more than 60 days before the next general election at which state officers are elected.
It would also let the Legislature set the pay of the lieutenant governor and of the officers of the House and Senate by joint resolution, and it would require that any spending of legislative funds on members’ travel be approved by an officer elected by the full membership of that chamber. It was proposed by Act 2026-341, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan.
Amendment 2 would create a way for two or more neighboring county school boards to merge into one multi-county school system by formal resolution of each board.
Before a merger could take effect, the State Board of Education would have to study its effects on students, families, programs, transportation, finances, taxes and school operations, and publish the study. If 25 percent of the qualified voters in any of the affected county systems filed a written protest, the merger could go forward only if a majority of voters in each affected county, and a majority of all votes cast across the counties, approved it at the next general election. It was proposed by Act 2026-378, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins.
Amendment 3 would require every local board of education to adopt a policy requiring each public K-12 school to conduct the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day, with students given the chance to recite it voluntarily, and a policy allowing student-initiated, student-led prayer. No student could be required to take part in the prayer, and students could opt out of the pledge or the prayer on their own beliefs. Reported violations would go to the local superintendent. It was proposed by Act 2026-379, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram.
Amendment 4 would require local boards of education to adopt a policy requiring each public K-12 school to broadcast the first stanza of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at least once a week during school hours. A board could instead allow a school-approved band, choir, vocal group or vocalist to perform it, using the version archived by the Library of Congress. It was proposed by Act 2026-424, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Voters must show a valid photo ID. The ballot offers a straight-party line for the Alabama Democratic Party and the Alabama Republican Party, and the offices that run by district appear only in the precincts they cover.
An absentee ballot returned by hand is due at the absentee election manager’s office by the close of business Monday, Nov. 2. One returned by mail must arrive by noon on election day. Results will be posted at each polling place after the count and at AlabamaVotes.gov. The county’s sample ballot, as certified by the Secretary of State, is printed in this edition.
