The 2018 midterm election will 2018 VOTER determine seats for local, state, and federal positions. In this GUIDE guide, we provide everything you need to know to be an informed voter when you go to the polls on November 6. This guide does not assess any candidate’s fitness for a job nor recommend any candidate over another.
HOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
Follow them online. Go to events. Attend Read the news. Visit their websites, sign candidate forums, debates, Local, reputable sources up for emails, and follow and other campaign events oftentimes provide them on social media. and ask questions. overviews of candidates running for election.
the prosecution of any criminal case in EXECUTIVE any of the courts of the state. District 8 Jessica Fortune Barker (D), Wayne Reynolds(R) Governor — Secretary of State — The board consists of nine members Kay Ivey (R), Walt Maddox (D) John Merrill (R), Heather Milam (D) who authorize education policy for The head of the executive branch The Alabama chief election official Alabama and who appoint the State faithfully executes state laws, commands certifies vote totals, candidate Superintendent. The Governor acts as our Army and Air National Guards, qualifications, and ballots. They also its president. Elected members serve and signs/vetos bills from the state maintain the state government’s official four-year terms. Four odd districts legislature. They also declare state of documents and public records. members are elected in presidential emergencies, call special sessions for the election years, while even districts state, and pardon criminal convictions. State Treasurer — John McMillan (R)* members are elected during midterms. They handle all deposits, payments, Lieutenant Governor — investments, and other financial dealings Commissioner of Agriculture and Will Ainsworth (R), Will Boyd (D) on behalf of the state of Alabama. Industries — Rick Pate (R)* The second-ranking officer in the They manage the Department of executive branch and the first in line to State Auditor — Agriculture and Industries which succeed the Governor. The lieutenant Miranda Joseph (D), Jim Zeigler (R) oversees farms, animal and plant governor acts as president of the Senate They’re constitutionally required to industry, pesticides, and other and is the tie-breaking vote. report annually on all receipts and agricultural products. disbursements of every character, all Attorney General — claims audited and paid out, and all Public Service Commission — Steve Marshall (R), taxes and revenues collected into the Place 1 Cara McClure (D), Joseph Siegelman (D) treasury. Jeremy H. Oden (R) — Place 2 They defend Alabama in suits against Chip Beeker, Jr. (R), Kari Powell (D) the state. They also provide legal advice State Board of Education — Tasked with overseeing the regulation to state and county officers and advisory District 2 Adam Jortner (D), Tracie of public transport and utilities, they opinions on the constitutionality of bills West (R) — District 4 Yvette M. provide consumers with safe, adequate as well as request execution dates for Richardson (D), Don Wallace (R) — and reliable services at rates that are prisoners on death row. They may direct District 6 Cynthia McCarty (R)* — equitable and economical.
* - winner, uncontested County Sheriff — the House is the only chamber that can An elected position for the county’s originate revenue bills. They are also chief law enforcement officer. Some able to override a gubernatorial veto counties have specific laws which govern with a simple majority. the sheriff’s office differently. The Alabama Supreme Court holds Alabama District 1: Phillip Pettus (R), county sheriffs as state officers thus Bobby James Dolan III (I) making them immune to most legal District 2: Lora Kay Morrow (D), actions. Lynn Greer (R) District 3: Chad Young (D), JEFFERSON COUNTY Andrew Sorrell (R) DISTRICT ATTORNEY JUDICIAL District 4: Juanita Allen Healy (D), ELECTION — Parker Moore (R), Polan Willis Jr. (I) Alabama Supreme Court— District 5: Brian Williams (D), Mike Anderton (R), Chief Justice Tom Parker (R), Danny Crawford (R) Danny Carr (D) Bob Vance, Jr. (D) — Place 1 District 6: Andy Whitt (R)* Sarah Hicks Stewart (R) — Place 2 District 7: Kenneth Brackins (D), The district attorney is the Tommy Bryan (R)* — Place 3 Proncey Robertson (R) chief prosecutor for a local Will Sellers (R)* — Place 4 Jay Mitchell District 8: Billy Jackson (D), government area in Alabama. (R), Donna Wesson Smalley (D) Terri Collins (R) DAs are responsible for Officials are authorized to review District 9: Terrie Jones Savage (D), presenting cases against decisions of any state court, conclude Scott Stadthagen (R) individuals and groups legal matters other can’t help due to District 10: J.B. King (D), they suspect of breaking lack of jurisdiction, and set official Mike Ball (R), Elijah Boyd (L) practices and procedures for all state District 11: Randall Shedd (R)* the law, initiating and courts. Their rulings are usually final. District 12: Corey Harbison (R)* directing further criminal The chief justice acts as administrative District 13: Connie Cooner Rowe (R)* investigations, guiding and head of Alabama’s judicial system but District 14: Tim Wadsworth (R)* recommending the sentencing does not have additional authority or District 15: Suzanna Coleman (D), of offenders, and are the power during legal proceedings. Allen Farley (R) only attorneys allowed to District 16: Kyle South (R)* participate in grand jury Criminal Appeals — District 17: Tracy Estes (R)* proceedings. They have the Place 1 Richard Minor (R)* — District 18: Eddie Britton (D), sole power to decide whether Place 2 Chris McCool (R) — Jamie Kiel (R) to file criminal charges as Place 3 Bill Cole (R)* District 19: Laura Hall (D)* well as the severity of those They hear matters settled at circuit District 20: Linda Meigs (D), charges, including if someone court level, including exclusive Howard Sanderford (R) receives a death sentence. jurisdiction over all misdemeanors, District 21: C. Terry Jones (D), felonies, and habeas corpus. Rex Reynolds (R) District 22: Ritchie Whorton (R)* Our DAs, elected to six-year Civil Appeals — District 23: James Hanes, Jr. (R)* terms, will be determined in Place 1 Richard Minor (R)* — District 24: Nathaniel Ledbetter (R)* 2022. However, a call for a Place 2 Chris McCool (R)* — District 25: Mac McCutcheon (R)* special election will put two Place 3 Bill Cole, (R)* District 26: Kerry Rich (R)* candidates on the ballot in They hear matters such as divorce, District 27: Bill Jones (D), Jefferson County this fall. custody, worker’s compensation, and Wes Kitchens (R) appeals from administrative agencies. District 28: Kyle Pierce (D), Gil Isbell (R) District 29: Jared Millican (D), LEGISLATIVE Becky Nordgren (R) District 30: Jared Vaughn (D), Alabama House of Representatives B. Craig Lipscomb (R) While both legislative bodies pass bills District 31: Mike Holmes (R)* on public policy matters, set levels for District 32: Barbara Boyd (D), state spending, raise or lower taxes, James Lloyd (R) District 33: Scott Brewer (D), District 69: Kelvin Lawrence (D)* District 104: Ron Johnson (R) District 70: Arlene Cunningham Easley (D), District 34: David Standridge (R)* Christopher J. England (D)* Margie Wilcox (R) District 35: Steve Hurst (R)* District 71: Artis J. McCampbell (D)* District 105: Chip Brown (R)* District 36: Nicki Arnold-Swindle (D), District 72: Randy Wood (R) Ralph Anthony Howard (D)* Alabama Senate — District 37: District 73: Jack Jacobs (D), While both legislative bodies pass bills Charlotte Clark-Frieson (D), Matt Fridy (R) on public policy matters, set levels for Bob Fincher (R) District 74: Rayford Mack (D), state spending, raise or lower taxes, District 38: Brian McGee (D), Dimitri Polizos (R) the Senate has the sole power of Todd Rauch (R) District 75: Reed Ingram (R)* confirmation of certain appointees. They District 39: Ginny Shaver (R)* District 76: Thad McClammy (D)* are also the deliberative body and able District 40: Pamela Howard (D), District 77: TaShina Morris (D)* to have lengthier debates. K.L. Brown (R) District 78: Kirk Hatcher (D), District 41: Emily Marcum (D), Tijuanna Adetunji (I) District 1: Caroline Self (D), Corley Ellis (R) District 79: Mary Wynne Kling (D), Tim Melson (R) District 42: James Martin (R)* Joe Lovvorn (R) District 2: Amy Wasyluka (D), District 43: Carin Mayo (D), District 80: Judy LaRue (D), Tom Butler (R) Arnold Mooney (R) Chris Blackshear (R) District 3: Arthur Orr (R)* District 44: Danny Garrett (R)* District 81: Jeremy Jeffcoat (D), District 4: Garlan Gudger (R)* District 45: Jenn Gray (D), Ed Oliver (R) District 5: Greg Reed (R)* Dickie Drake (R) District 82: Pebblin Warren (D)* District 6: Johnny Mack Morrow (D), District 46: Felicia Stewart (D), District 83: Jeremy Gray (D), Larry Stutts (R) David Faulkner (R) Michael Holden (R) District 7: Deborah Barros (D), District 47: Jim Toomey (D), District 84: Berry Forte (D)* Sam Givhan (R) David Wheeler (R) District 85: Dexter Grimsley (D), District 8: Steve Livingston (R)* District 48: Alli Summerford (D), J. Ron Wilson (R) District 9: Clay Scofield (R)* Jim Carns (R) District 86: Kristy Kirkland (D), District 10: Andrew Jones (R), District 49: April Weaver (R)* Paul Lee (R) Craig Ford (I) District 50: Jim Hill (R)* District 87: Jeff Sorrells (R)* District 11: Carl Carter (D), District 51: Veronica Johnson (D), District 88: Cory Creel (D), Jim McClendon (R) Allen Treadaway (R) Will Dismukes (R) District 12: Jim Williams (D), District 52: John Rogers (D)* District 89: Joel Lee Williams (D), Del Marsh (R) District 53: Anthony Daniels (D)* Wes Allen (R) District 13: Darrell Turner (D), District 54: Neil Rafferty (D), District 90: Joanne Whetstone (D), Randy Price (R) Joseph Casper Baker III (I) Chris Sells (R) District 14: Jerry McDonald (D), District 55: Rod Scott (D)* District 91: Rhett Marques (R)* Cam Ward (R) District 56: Louise Alexander (D)* District 92: Mike Jones, Jr. (R)* District 15: Laura Casey (D), District 57: Merika Coleman (D)* District 93: Steve Clouse (R)* Dan Roberts (R) District 58: Rolanda Hollis (D)* District 94: District 16: Lindsey Deckard (D), District 59: Mary Moore (D)* Danielle Mashburn-Myrick (D), J.T. Waggoner (R) District 60: Juandalynn Givan (D)* Joe Faust (R) District 17: Shay Shelnutt (R)* District 61: Tommy Hyche (D), District 95: Steve McMillan (R)* District 18: Rodger Smitherman (D)* Rodney Sullivan (R) District 96: Maurice Horsey (D), District 19: Priscilla Dunn (D)* District 62: Will Benton (D), Matt Simpson (R), Matt Shelby (L) District 20: Linda Coleman-Madison Rich Wingo (R) District 97: Adline C. Clarke (D), (D)* District 63: Bill Poole (R)* Stephen McNair (R) District 21: Rick Burnham (D), District 64: Amber Selman-Lynn (D), District 98: Napoleon Bracy Jr. (D)* Gerald Allen (R) Harry Shiver (R) District 99: Sam Jones (D), District 22: Greg Albritton (R)* District 65: Elaine Beech (D), Charles Talbert (R) District 23: Malika Sanders-Fortier (D), Brett Easterbrook (R) District 100: Victor Gaston (R)* Mark Story (I), J. Cooper Holmes (I) District 66: Susan Smith (D), District 101: Chris Pringle (R)* District 24: Bobby Singleton (D)* Alan Baker (R) District 102: Shane Stringer (R)* District 25: David Sadler (D), District 67: Prince Chestnut (D)* District 103: Barbara Drummond (D)* Will Barfoot (R) District 68: Thomas Jackson (D)* District 26: David Burkette (D), District 1: Bradley Byrne (R), November 5, 2018 D.J. Johnson (R) Robert Kennedy, Jr. (D) Last day for voter to hand-deliver District 27: District 2: Martha Roby (R), or postmark an absentee ballot Nancy Carlton Bendinger (D), Tabitha Isner (D) Tom Whatley (R) District 3: Mallory Hagan (D), November 6, 2018 District 28: Billy Beasley (D)* Mike Rogers (R) Statewide General Election District 29: Donnie Chesteen (R)* District 4: Robert Aderholt (R), District 30: Clyde Chambliss Jr. (R)* Lee Auman (D) District 31: Jimmy Holley (R)* District 5: Mo Brooks (R), District 32: Jason Fisher (D), Peter Joffrion (D) HOTLINE Chris Elliot (R) District 6: Danner Kline (D), District 33: Vivian Figures (D)* Gary Palmer (R) CALL 334-420-1748. District 34: Jack Williams (R)* District 7: Terri Sewell (D)* If you have a complaint about District 35: Tom Holmes (D), voting on Election Day, call our David Sessions (R) IMPORTANT DATES hotline to leave a message or AND DEADLINES submit a comment online. This is House of Representatives — not intended to offer assistance Congressional representatives are October 22, 2018 or legal advice. responsible for crafting, debating, and Voter registration deadline for passing federal law in coordination with general election the U.S. Senate. The House represents the popular will, so voters elect their state representatives directly. They November 1, 2018 possess the authority to initiate revenue Last day to apply for an absentee bills and impeachments. ballot for the general election
www.aclualabama.org/vote
BALLOT INITIATIVES Amendment #2: superintendent from the Anti-Abortion Amendment board, establish districts for Amendment #1: membership, and eliminate the 70 Ten Commandments + This proposed amendment year age cap for board members. Amendment would declare that the state of Alabama must recognize + The ACLU takes no position + This proposed amendment and support the “rights on this Amendment. would authorize the display of unborn children.” of the Ten Commandments Amendment #4: on government property + The ACLU opposes this Legislature Vacancy including public schools. Amendment because it attempts Amendment to criminalize abortions with + The ACLU opposes this no exceptions. Health care + This proposed amendment because a constitutional display shouldn’t be a decision left up would allow a vacated seat in of the Ten Commandments to lawmakers in Montgomery. the Alabama House or Senate is already permissible so this to stay empty until the next Amendment does nothing to Amendment #3: general election if the vacancy further religious liberty. The University of Alabama occurs on or after October 1 Amendment is likely to result Trustees Amendment in the third year of a term. in potentially costly litigation against government entities. + This proposed amendment + The ACLU takes no position would remove the state on this Amendment.