Governor Bentley Calls Special Election for House District 58

MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Monday announced the timeline for a special election to fill the vacant District 58 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives.

The District 58 House seat was previously held by Representative Oliver Robinson, who served in House District 58 in Birmingham for the past 18 years. Robinson’s resignation is effective Monday, Dec. 5. District 58 covers portions of Jefferson County.

According to the special election timeline finalized Monday:

A Special Primary Election shall be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2016. In the event that a Special Primary Election is not necessary, because the major parties each have only one candidate, the Special General Election shall be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
A Special Primary Runoff Election shall be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, if necessitated by one candidate not receiving a majority of the votes cast in the Special Primary Election for either major party.
In the event that a Special Primary Runoff Election is not necessary, because one candidate receives a majority of the votes cast in the Special Primary Election for each major party, then a Special General Election shall be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
In the event a Special Primary Runoff Election is required to be held, then the Special General Election shall be held on Tuesday, August 8, 2017.

“This timeline gives candidates time to qualify, allows voters time to learn about candidates, and allows time for those who are unable to vote in-person to arrange to vote by absentee ballot,” Governor Bentley said. “Representative Robinson is to be commended for his 18 years of dedication and service to the people of District 58.”

Candidates qualifying with major political parties must do so by Tuesday, December 27, 2016, 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 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2016.

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 Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at 5:00 p.m.

A copy of the Governor’s proclamation can be found here.