Wednesday, March 18, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Following a joint press conference featuring Governor Kay Ivey, Secretary of State John H. Merrill, and Attorney General Steve Marshall, the March 31 Runoff Election will be postponed until July 14, 2020.
The following statement is from Secretary of State John H. Merrill:
When I took office as Alabama’s 53rdSecretary of State, I set out to ensure a free and fair elections process for the people of Alabama.
First and foremost, however, the safety and well-being of every single Alabamian is my top priority.
The guidelines prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Alabama Department of Public Health have made it clear that it is no longer advisable for the people of Alabama to go to the polls to vote on March 31.
The opportunity to participate in the electoral process and have one’s voice heard at the polls is one that we will continue to protect and advocate for.
In postponing the March 31 Runoff Election to July 14, we are continuing Alabama’s practice of providing free and fair elections that do not compromise the safety and health of our voters, poll workers, and anyone else who may be involved with the elections process.
This new date will allow for the electoral process to continue in a normal manner. This delay will allow all local election officials the time to assess and evaluate the changes that must be made to ensure the Runoff Election is administered according to plan.
Eligible Alabamians may continue to register to vote in the Runoff Election until Monday, June 29.
Absentee ballot applications that have already been successfully submitted will be valid for the July 14, 2020 Runoff Election. To check on the status of your application, please contact your localAbsentee Election Manager.
All absentee ballot applications must be received by the close of business on Thursday, July 9. If delivered by hand, absentee ballots must be received by the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business Monday, July 13. If returning by mail, the last day to postmark an absentee ballot is Monday, July 13.
Voters eligible to vote pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act will have until Tuesday, July 14 to postmark an absentee ballot.
I am grateful to Governor Ivey and General Marshall for their proactive leadership, sincere dedication, and spirit of teamwork that we have seen displayed during these trying times to ensure we are providing a safe and secure environment for all 3,585,209 voters in the State of Alabama to participate in the electoral process.