Governor Bentley Calls Special Election for Senate District 35

MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday announced the timeline for a special election to fill the vacant District 35 seat in the Alabama Senate.

District 35 covers portions of Mobile County.  The District 35 Senate seat was previously held by Senator Ben Brooks, who resigned from the Senate Tuesday following his recent election as a circuit judge in Mobile County.  Brooks will assume the judge’s position in January.

According to the special election timeline finalized Tuesday:

• A Special Primary Election for the District 35 Senate seat will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2013.  Or, in the event that a Special Primary Election is not necessary because the major parties have only one candidate, the Special General Election will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2013.

• If necessary because of one candidate not receiving a majority of the votes in the Special Primary Election, a Special Primary Runoff Election will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

• If a Special Primary Runoff Election is not necessary because one candidate receives a majority of the votes in the Special Primary Election, the Special General Election will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

• If a Special Primary Runoff Election is required, the Special General Election will be held on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.

“This election timeline was designed to have a senator in place for District 35 as soon as possible,” Governor Bentley said.  “The timeline gives candidates time to qualify, it allows voters time to learn about candidates, and it allows time for those who are unable to vote in-person to arrange to vote by absentee ballot.”

Candidates qualifying with major political parties must do so by Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at 5:00 p.m.  The two major political parties are to certify their qualified candidates to the Secretary of State by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, 2012.

All third-party candidates, independent candidates, and/or minor party candidates seeking ballot access are advised that their deadline for filing the appropriate notification, petitions, or supporting paperwork with the Secretary of State is Thursday, December 13, at 5:00 p.m.