2020 BirminghamWatch Voter Guide
Voting is in full swing even though the polls won’t open until Tuesday morning.
Between interest in the races on the ballot and fear of coronavirus, more than 316,000 people applied to vote by absentee ballots and 259,201 absentee ballots had been successfully returned as of Thursday, according to Grace Newcombe, press secretary for the Secretary of State’s Office.
That crushed the previous record for absentee votes, which was 88,000 cast in the 2012 general election.
At the top of the ticket is the Donald Trump-Joe Biden showdown for the White House. That race has drawn the most interest nationwide. But there’s another race that has drawn much attention in Alabama, as former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville, a Republican, tries to unseat Doug Jones, who three years ago was the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama in 25 years.
Also up for grabs are races for the Alabama Public Service Commission presidency and a seat on the state Board of Education. In Jefferson County, contested races also include a district court judgeship, deputy treasurer, tax assessor, assistant tax assessor and assistant tax collector.
Voters also have six amendments to decide – seven in Shelby County.
The 2020 BirminghamWatch Voter Guide gives you information to navigate through the voting process. You’ll find profiles of the candidates, including biographical information, the main issues they’re citing in their campaigns, their top contributors and links to their web or social media sites. Also in the guide is a rundown of the amendments with an analysis of each by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, sample ballots you can print, mark as you want and take to the polling place as a reminder, if you want; and information about voting and going to the polls.
Sample Ballots
Additional Links For Voters
Printable Sample Ballots for Jefferson and Shelby Counties
List of Candidates with Profiles
Your Guide to Alabama’s 2020 Constitutional Amendments
Check your registration status, find your polling place and check the status of your absentee ballot
Jones Runs Aggressive Campaign to Maintain Senate Seat for the Democrats
With a Commanding Lead in Polls, Tuberville Shuns Media and Jones While Embracing Trump
Poll Watchers Have Strict Rules to Follow, and So Do Others at the Polls
Q&A: Bobby Carter on leading Tiny Desk, his time at Jackson State, early career advice
Carter, a Jackson State alumnus, took over as the new series host and producer for NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concerts” series in April.
Alabama to begin working with a consulting company that’s under criminal investigation
McKinsey & Company, an international consulting business, will help the state of Alabama develop a new strategic economic growth plan. The company is undertaking that project, while also dealing with a probe into whether it engaged in a criminal conspiracy.
‘Stupidity of politics’: Medicaid expansion effort dies in Mississippi
Mississippi lawmakers couldn’t come together to pass a bill that could have expanded Medicaid for thousands of residents.
This spiky-stemmed invasive grass is taking over Alabama
Classified as one of the worst weeds in the world, cogongrass aggressively crowds out native species and costs Alabama landowners tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue.
Gambling bill in doubt with three days left in the legislative session
Alabama lawmakers are coming down to the finish line for this year’s legislative session. Many bills await passage, but perhaps the biggest one up in the air is a lottery and gambling bill.
Pro-Palestinian demonstration draws counter-protest at University of Alabama
Students gathered demanding the school call for a permanent and immediate ceasefire and to push the school to sever ties with defense contractor Lockheed Martin.
