Two of Alabama’s largest counties scramble to meet deadline for special primary election

As Alabama moves toward its August 11 special primary election, election officials in Jefferson and Mobile counties are in a final race against the clock. Both counties, the largest in the state, were working through the final steps of reassigning voters to their proper congressional districts as of Monday afternoon.

Wednesday marks the official deadline for this critical process, a date established by Governor Kay Ivey following a mandate from the Legislature. It is also the day when absentee voting begins—exactly 55 days prior to the election. By that time, probate judges are required to provide finalized lists of qualified voters to the absentee election managers in each county.

Laney Rawls, director of communication for Secretary of State Wes Allen, noted in an email Monday that expectations are for the process to be wrapped up by Wednesday morning. According to the Secretary of State's office, ballot vendors are on track to deliver the necessary ballots and voter lists by the deadline.

For those living in counties that have already finalized their voter reassignments, you can verify your district using the online voter information tool available via the Secretary of State’s website. These counties include Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Monroe, and Washington.

Navigating New Congressional Lines

State officials have acknowledged the logistical difficulty in preparing for this special primary, which covers four of Alabama’s seven congressional districts: 1, 2, 6, and 7. While districts were adjusted in 14 of the 40 affected counties, the remaining 12 counties aside from Mobile and Jefferson have already completed their updates.

This election cycle marks the first use of the district map approved by the Legislature in 2023. During the 2024 election, Alabama utilized a court-ordered map after federal judges ruled the Legislature’s initial plan violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black votes. However, following a shift in legal precedent—including the Louisiana vs. Callais case in April—the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the injunction on June 2, allowing the state to proceed with the map that favors Republicans in six of the seven districts.

Alabama held an initial primary on May 19 using the court-approved map, but state lawmakers subsequently passed legislation to cancel those results for Districts 1, 2, 6, and 7 to align with the current map. As the focus shifts to the August 11 special primary, Republican leaders are looking to flip the District 2 seat currently held by Democrat Shomari Figures to regain a 6-1 majority in the state’s U.S. House delegation. Figures is currently campaigning for reelection in the redrawn district.

For more details on who is running in these special elections or how to verify your specific district, residents are encouraged to stay updated via official state resources.