Republicans will go back to the polls today to choose between former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore or former Alabama Attorney General and incumbent Sen. Luther Strange. 

The winner of the GOP runoff will face former U.S. attorney Doug Jones in the general election Dec. 12. Democrats have not won a Senate race in Alabama since 1992.

Moore and Strange represent different factions within the Alabama Republican Party and are vying for the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. During the Aug. 15 GOP primary, Moore pulled in nearly 40 percent of the vote while Strange, appointed in February to temporarily fill the seat, finished second with nearly 33 percent.

Moore harnessed his support among evangelical voters to secure a spot in the runoff despite a judicial discipline panel twice removing him as chief justice.

President Donald Trump endorsed Strange and campaigned for the former state attorney general in Huntsville Friday. Strange is also backed by a super political action committee tied to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell which he’s used to attack Moore with political ads.

New state legislation banned crossover voting so if you voted in the Democratic primary election, you can’t vote as a Republican for the runoff Tuesday.

The runoff also means the Cullman County Commission will not meet Tuesday but on Thursday instead. The commission meeting room is used as a polling place for local residents. Commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, with its 8:30 a.m. work session preceding.

The commission has cancelled three other meetings later this year, as well:

• Wed., Oct. 11
• Tues., Dec. 12
• Wed., Dec. 27

The commission will meet the following dates:

• Tues., Oct. 17
• Tues., Nov. 14
• Tues., Nov. 28
• Thurs., Dec. 14
• Thurs., Dec. 28

For more information about the Cullman County Commission, go online to www.co.cullman.al.us/commission/commission.html

Tiffeny Owens can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 135.

Polls will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. today for the Republican runoff of the U.S. Senate. Go to cullmantimes.com to see results Tuesday night.

Here’s some information that may be helpful when you go to vote.

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Where Do I Vote?

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.

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Voter ID Required to Vote

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.

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Absentee Ballots

To qualify to vote absentee a resident must meet one of the following requirements:

* Out of the county or state on Election Day.

* Has any physical illness or infirmity which prevents his or her attendance at the polls, whether he or she is within or outside the county on the day of election.

* Works a shift which has at least 10 hours which coincide with the hours the polls are open at his or her regular polling place.

* Enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of his or her personal residence which prevents his or her attendance at the polls.

* Is a member of, or spouse or dependent of a member of, the armed forces of the United States or is similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

* Appointed as an election officer or named as a poll watcher at a polling place other than his or her regular polling place.

If you have moved and have not updated your voter registration, contact the Cullman County Board of Registrars at 500 Second Ave SW, Room #112, Cullman, Alabama, 35055 and update your address. This step must be done before applying for an absentee ballot. You can contact the registrar’s office at 256-775-4750.

Separate applications for absentee ballots are required for elections which are more than 42 days apart, with an exception for individuals voting pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act.

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 that voter regularly receives mail.

An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election — Monday, Sept. 25 — and received by the Absentee Election Manager no later than noon on election day, Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Absentee ballots must be delivered in person by the voter whose name appears on the ballot. No one, including a family member, can return another person’s ballot unless designated to do so in a case of a medical emergency.

If hand-delivered, the ballot must be in the office of the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business (but no later than 5 p.m.) on the day prior to the election, Monday, Sept. 25.

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Where can I see election returns?

Election returns will come into the third-floor circuit courtroom in the Cullman County Courthouse after polls close 7 p.m. Tuesday. You can also go online to http://co.cullman.al.us/elections/electioncenter.html or alabamavotes.gov to view election results.