Low Voter Turnout So Far at Some Birmingham Polls
There’s plenty of campaigning, but turnout appears low so far at several Birmingham polling places today as voters elect a mayor, city council and school board.
At Legion Field, where voters from three different council districts cast their ballots, crowds gathered outside campaigning. A few candidates and their staffers pitched tailgating tents. One was frying chicken to serve for lunch for campaign workers.
One mayoral candidate — Frank James Matthews — drove up with a caravan of about 10 vehicles. They were all honking horns and waving campaign signs.
There was a steady flow in and out of the polling place. But by 10:45 a.m., fewer than 500 people had voted. In the November 2016 General Election, 2,700 people voted at that same site.
The flow of voters was also slow at Sun Valley Elementary School. Only 160 people had voted by 9 a.m. Outside the polling place were the two candidates for the District 1 City Council seat campaigned.
Incumbent Lashunda Scales approached voters saying, “I’m counting on your vote.” Her opponent Sherman Collins stood just a few feet away saying “Eight is Enough.” Scales was first elected to the council in August 2009.
In Roebuck at the Don Hawkins Recreation Center, the flow of voters was steady. By 1 p.m. about 400 voters had cast their ballots. In November, 1,800 voters cast ballots at that location.
Additional reporting by Esther Ciammachilli
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed
The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.
Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?
The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.
Musher from Alabama is going for back-to-back Iditarod wins
Riches and paid appearances haven’t followed Jessie Holmes since he won the world’s most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, last year. He doesn't mind.
Bill would move Alabama to closed primaries
Right now, any Alabama voter can participate in a primary election. Lawmakers in Montgomery took up a bill this week that would change that system.
Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham
Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.
Ivey commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot
Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for the killing of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.
