By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday announced the timeline for a special election for the District 97 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives. District 97 became vacant when longtime Representative Yvonne Kennedy (D) passed away following a short illness.
Candidates have until Monday, January 7, 2013 to qualify to run with either of the two major parties. The Alabama Republican and Democratic Parties must certify their candidates with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office no later than 5:00 Monday, January 9th.
The Special Primary election will be held on Tuesday, February the 26th, 2013. If there is no need for either a Republican or a Democratic Primary then the Special General Election will be on Tuesday, February 26th.
The Special Primary Runoff election will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. If a runoff election is not necessary because the two major political parties each have a candidate who won the majority of the primary votes then the Special General Election will be on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.
If a Special Primary Runoff is necessary then the Special General Election will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. It is possible that District 97 which covers parts of Mobile County will not have a candidate sworn in until the end of the 2013 Legislative General Session.
Independents and minor party candidates who would like to be on the Special General Election ballot must collect signatures of registered voters to get ballot access. The deadline for filing the appropriate notification, petitions, and all required supporting paperwork with the Secretary of State is Thursday, January the 10th, 2013, at 5:00 p.m., unless a special primary election will be necessary on February 26, 2013. If there is going to be a major party Special election primary then the Governor is giving the third-party candidates, independent candidates, and/or minor party candidates until 5:00 p.m. on February 26, 2013 to turn in all of the qualification papers including the petitions.
