Elections in Alabama facts for kids

Elections in Alabama are how people choose their leaders and make important decisions for the state. These elections are set up by the Alabama State Constitution. People vote for state leaders, like the governor, and also for local officials, such as members of school boards.

The Elections Division, which is part of the Alabama Secretary of State's office, makes sure that all elections follow state laws. In a study from 2020, Alabama was ranked as one of the states where it's harder for citizens to vote.

Understanding State Elections in Alabama

How Did Alabama's Voting System Change?

For a long time, after the Reconstruction era ended around 1900, many people, especially African Americans, were stopped from voting in Alabama. This was done through new laws like poll taxes (money you had to pay to vote), literacy tests (reading and writing tests), and strict residency rules. These rules also stopped many poor white people from voting. Because of this, the Democratic Party became very powerful in Alabama for nearly 100 years. Most elections were decided in the Democratic primary (the first election to choose a party's candidate), and the Republican Party usually didn't win many votes.

When Did Republicans Start Winning in Alabama?

Things began to change in 1986. The Democratic Party had a very close primary election for governor. The state Democratic Party decided to remove one candidate, Charles Graddick, from the ballot, saying that some Republicans had voted illegally. This made many voters angry. As a result, they voted for the Republican candidate, Guy Hunt, who became the first Republican governor in Alabama since the Reconstruction era.

Since 1986, Republicans have won most of the governor's elections. They have also gained control of many other important positions. For example, they now hold most of Alabama's seats in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. All nine judges on the Supreme Court of Alabama are also Republicans.

Who Holds Power in Alabama Today?

As of 2012, Republicans held all nine seats on the Alabama Supreme Court and all ten seats on the state's appellate courts. Before 1994, no Republicans held any state court seats. Republicans also hold all seven of the main statewide executive offices, like the Governor. In 2010, Republicans won a large majority in both parts of the state legislature. This was the first time they had control of the legislature in 136 years! By 2012, Republicans held almost all major statewide elected positions.

Local Elections and Fair Voting

How Did Local Elections Become More Fair?

For many years, in Alabama, most county and city officials were elected using a system called "at-large" voting. This meant that people voted for all the officials at once, instead of voting for one person to represent their specific area. In places where most voters were white, this system made it very hard for African American voters to elect candidates they supported, even if they were a large part of the population.

In 1986, a court case called Dillard v. Crenshaw County challenged this system. The court decided that the way Alabama used at-large elections was unfair and went against the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This law helps protect everyone's right to vote.

After this court ruling, many local governments in Alabama changed their election systems. They started using "single-member districts" (SMDs). This means that each area (or district) elects its own representative. This change has helped more African Americans get elected to local offices, like county commissions and school boards. It has also led to more Democrats being elected.

Who Wins Local Elections Now?

Today, in most rural counties where many African Americans live, local elections are often decided in the Democratic primary. In cities and suburbs, where most people are white, local elections are usually decided in the Republican primary.

Alabama's 67 County Sheriffs are elected in partisan elections (meaning they run as a member of a political party). As of 2017, there were 32 Democratic sheriffs, 34 Republican sheriffs, and 1 Independent sheriff. Most Democratic sheriffs are in rural counties, while most Republican sheriffs are in more populated, urban areas.

Federal Elections in Alabama

How Has Alabama Voted for President?

For many years, from 1876 to 1956, Alabama almost always voted for Democratic presidential candidates. There were only a few exceptions. For example, in 1948, Alabama voted for Strom Thurmond, a candidate who supported segregation.

In 1964, things changed a lot. Alabama voted for the Republican candidate, Barry Goldwater. This was the first time a Republican won the state since 1872. This shift happened after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed.

In 1968, Alabama supported its own leader, George Wallace, for president. He ran as an independent candidate. In 1976, Jimmy Carter, a Democrat from Georgia, won Alabama. But after that, the Democratic Party's control in the region weakened.

Since 1980, Alabama has voted Republican in every presidential election. Republicans have also become stronger in elections for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. They have held most of the state's congressional seats and both Senate seats since 1997.

Who Represents Alabama in Congress?

As of 2017, Alabama's two U.S. senators were Republican Richard Shelby and Democrat Doug Jones. Richard Shelby was first elected as a Democrat in 1986 but changed to the Republican Party later. Doug Jones was elected in a special election in 2017.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, Alabama has seven members. Six of them are Republicans: Bradley Byrne, Mike D. Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Morris J. Brooks, Martha Roby, and Gary Palmer. One member is a Democrat: Terri Sewell.

Presidential Election Results in Alabama Over Time