David Palmer

dpalmer@cullmantimes.com

The continuation of a long political season is just around the corner as the deadline approaches to register to vote in the primary runoff elections.

For those who didn’t vote in the June 5 primaries, the deadline to register for the runoff is July 2.

If a registered voter wants to use an absentee ballot, the deadline is July 12. The last day for a voter to hand-deliver or postmark an absentee ballot is July 16, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.

The runoff election is July 17. Polls will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

One local race remains undecided in the Republican Primary.  Cullman County Board of Education, Fairview/District 2, features a runoff between Shane Rusk and Michael Knop.

Rusk captured 800 votes, or 45.40 percent, to Knop’s 660 votes, or 37.46 percent. William “Bill” Ballews had just over 17 percent of the votes to force the runoff.

The remaining races on the Republican Primary runoff ballot include:

Lieutenant Governor:

Will Ainsworth

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh

Attorney General

Troy King

Steve Marshall

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place 1

Brad Mendheim

Sarah Hicks Stewart

Court of Civil Appeals Judge, Place 1

Christy Olinger Edwards

Michelle Manley Thomason

Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place 2

Rich Anderson

Chris McCool

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries

Gerald Dial 

Rick Pate

There are no Democratic Party runoffs in Cullman County or statewide that affect the local area.

Voter registration can be completed in person at the Cullman County Courthouse, located at 500 2nd Ave SW, Cullman.

Registration can also be completed online at alabamavotes.gov

After registering to vote, you will receive a voter identification card in the mail, which will provide you the name and address of your voting place as well as a listing of the various districts in which you live.

To check your registration status, update your voter information or learn more about the election, visit alabamavotes.gov.

When election day arrives, a voter must present one of the following forms of identification before he or she will be permitted to vote. A voter who does not have one of these forms of photo identification is eligible for a free Alabama Photo Voter ID card:

– Valid Alabama Driver’s License

– Valid Alabama Nondriver ID

– Valid free Alabama Photo Voter ID card

– Valid State issued ID (Alabama or any other state)

– Valid Federal issued ID

– Valid U.S. passport

– Valid Employee ID from Federal Government, State of Alabama, County, Municipality, Board, or other entity of this state 

 – Valid student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)

– Valid student or employee ID issued by a state institution of higher learning in any other state

– Valid Military ID

– Valid Tribal ID

July 2: Voter registration deadline.

July 12: Last day for voter to make application for an absentee ballot.

July 16: Last day for voter to hand-deliver or postmark an absentee ballot

July 17: Runoff election