Residents will go to the polls today to decide who will be Cullman County Commission Chairman in the Republican primary runoff. 

The county’s 49 polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The three-man race was whittled to incumbent Kenneth Walker and former Place 1 Associate Commissioner Darrell Hicks after small businessman Eric Parker finished third in the March 1 primary. 

 With no Democratic candidates running, the winner Tuesday will go on to serve a four-year term as head of the three-member commission that oversees a nearly 500-strong workforce across 12 departments and the maintenance of five parks and 1,800 miles of roads.

The local consensus says turnout should be low, and soggy weather could keep voters from the polls. Showers are likely along with a possible thunderstorm before 8 a.m. before rain settles over the area until around 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville. 

Walker captured 44.3 percent of the vote to Hicks’ 34.1 percent and Parker’s 21.6 percent during the primary which saw voter turnout near 50 percent, with 23,183 residents casting votes. Both Walker and Hicks are hoping they’ll get half that today.

“Senior citizens are typically your most loyal voters turn out with every election,” said Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, who was the last commission chairman to be elected to consecutive terms more than 30 years ago. 

Voters must present a valid photo ID when they go to the polls. Residents with driver licenses or non-driver ID will not need a new photo voter ID. Military or certain persons with disabilities may be exempt from presenting ID.

A person who doesn’t have a photo ID that shows up to vote will only be allowed to vote provisional, with those ballots being reviewed first before they are counted. Someone without proper photo ID will also be allowed to vote if two election officials can confirm his or her identity.

A voter ID can be obtained, free of charge, from the Cullman County Board of Registrars office on the first floor of the courthouse. More information on voter ID requirements can be found online at alabamavoterid.com.

Monday is the last day to vote by emergency absentee ballot and for an individual to return his or her ballot in person to the Cullman County Circuit Clerk’s office by 5 p.m. No one, not even family members, can return another person’s absentee ballot, and ballots must be mailed in separate envelopes, said Circuit Clerk Lisa McSwain.

The circuit clerk’s office is on the third floor of the courthouse. Absentee ballots that are mailed must be postmarked by Monday and received no later than noon Tuesday.

Completed absentee applications must include the Alabama residence where the voter is registered to vote, even if the ballot is to be mailed to another address where the voter regularly receives mail.

For more information concerning absentee voting, contact the Cullman County Circuit Clerk’s Office at 256-775-4654 or go online to cullmancourts.org.

The chairman’s annual salary is currently $61,928.14 plus the use of a county vehicle and health insurance. The chairman is in charge of setting the commission agenda, and while the chair can’t vote unless there’s a tie, he can second a motion to bring a matter to a vote.

Family: Married to wife, Trina, with three sons, Lance (Jessica), Braden (Jada-fiance) and Landen.

Education: Fairview High graduate

Work Experience: Owner of Walker Water Works, a water line installation, maintenance and excavation company, and Fairview Superette general store/ gas station

Family: Married to his wife Pat, with one daughter, Heather.

Education: Holly Pond High School graduate, bachelor’s degree in agriculture education from Auburn University and master’s degree from Alabama A&M University.

Work Experience: Teacher for seven years at West Point and 23 years at Holly Pond. He later worked in the farm supply business for several years, and he currently raises purebred Hereford cattle.

• Cullman Civic Center
• Cullman County Office Building
• Cullman City Hall
• Cullman County Courthouse conference rom
• Good Hope City Hall
• Dodge City Town Hall
• Hanceville City Hall
• Hanceville Recreation Center
• Garden City Town Hall
• Stouts Mountain Church
• Moody Town Union Hill Church
• Colony Town Hall
• Arkadelphia Fire Department
• Beat 8 Community Center
• Cold Springs Community
• Bremen Fire Department
• Trimble Fire Station
• Valley Grove Community Center
• Crane Hill Fire Department
• Bethsadia Fire Department
• Logan Fire Department
• Bethel Community Center
• Jones Chapel Fire Department
• Battleground Fire Department
• West Point Community Center
• Friendship Methodist Church
• Vinemont Fire Department
• Providence Fire Department
• Gold Ridge Community Center
• Baileyton Senior Center
• Brooklyn Community Center
• Joppa Fire Department
• New Canaan Senior Center
• Holly Pond Fire Department
• Berlin Community Center
• Walter Community Center
• Welti Mt. Zion Church
• Brushy Pond Community Center
• White City Community Center
• Fairview Fire Department (Last names beginning A-K)
• Fairview Town Hall (Last names beginning L-Z)
• Grandview Community Center
• Kelly Community Center
• Center Hill Community Center
• Simcoe Community Center
• Baldwin Community Center
• Cullman County Health Department
• East Point Community Center
• Bolte-White Grove Church

If you’re not sure which polling place to vote, contact the Cullman County Probate Office at 256-775-4665 or 256-775-4805. You can also go online to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website (https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/VoterView/PollingPlaceSearch.do). Enter your name and address to find out your polling place.

Election returns will come into the third-floor circuit courtroom in the Cullman County Courthouse after polls close 7 p.m. Tuesday. Watch live returns tonight here: www.cullmantimes.com