By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



On Tuesday, north Jefferson County residents will head to the polls to select their preference for president in this year’s election.

Alabama’s presidential primary, normally held in June, was moved up to Feb. 5, allowing the state to be part of “Super Tuesday” with 23 other states.

Voters may notice more names on the ballot than are still in the race for the White House. On the GOP ballot, Alan Keyes, Fred Thompson, Hugh Cort and Rudy Giuliani are still listed as candidates, even though those candidates are no longer in the race.

Barry Stephenson, deputy director of the Jefferson County Board of Registrars said if a candidate paid his or her qualifying fee in December, their names are on the ballot.

District 6 precinct inspector Sharon Wade said some voters may find the ballots confusing in other ways.

She said voters will have a chance to choose their preferred candidate for president on the left side of the ballot. However, voters must then choose delegates for that candidate.

For example, on the GOP ballot, each candidate may have numerous delegates, but the instructions inform the voter to only choose one delegate.

On the democratic ballot, voters must choose no more than four male delegates and no more than four female delegates for their preference.

“I just encourage the votes to take a look at the ballots before getting to the poles,” Wade said. “Whichever primary they prefer, they need to be familiar with the ballot.”

The polls at the civic center will be open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Wade said the largest crowds on voting days are generally before work, during lunch time, after school and after work.

An AutoMark machine will be available at the civic center for voters who are sight and hearing impaired. The use of cell phones inside the polling area is also prohibited.

In addition to Wade, there will be about 21 poll workers, appointed by the Jefferson County Election Commission. She said some of the workers have been helping for many years and enjoy making a difference.

“It’s their way of helping in their community,” Wade said. “They try very hard to make the voting process as easy as they can. We take an oath to do this.”

Wade’s district is Gardendale, where about 8,922 voters are registered to vote in the city’s civic center.

In Fultondale, 1,900 voters who go to Fultondale First Baptist Church and the 2,200 voters who go to the city’s senior center will have more choices on their ballots.

In addition to voting for presidential preference, residents who live in Jefferson County Commission District 1 will also have the opportunity to choose a new county commissioner to replace Larry Langford.

Langford gave up his seat to run a successful campaign for the mayor of Birmingham. Gov. Bob Riley appointed George Bowman, a retired two-star Army general, to fill Langford’s slot. However, three federal judges ruled that RIley needed federal approval before making the appointment.

Bowman will appear on the ballot along with Birmingham City Councilman William Bell. Other candidates include Orville Ifill, Eric Major, Kamau Afrika and Fred Plump.

Alabama will have another primary election in June for certain state and county elections, Stephenson said. Voters in Gardendale and Fultondale will also head back to the polls in August for municipal elections.