The Alabama Legislature is expected to pass both Republican-filed redistricting plans on Friday; a provision in both bills would eliminate the runoff requirement for the special elections that would follow, allowing a winner-take-all primary.
The House Bill (HB1) introduced by Speaker Pro-Tem Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) would restore the previously enacted U.S. congressional maps passed in 2023, while Senate Bill (SB1) introduced by State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) would restore the previously enacted State Senate maps.
A provision that appears in both bills but has garnered very little attention says, "Notwithstanding any state law to the contrary, the candidate who receives the greatest number of votes at the special primary election shall be deemed the winner and party nominee of that primary election, and no primary runoff election shall be held."
Both bills would authorize a new special primary election to be held if a federal court issues an order or vacates an injunction that would allow the legislature to use the previously enacted redistricting plans for the 2026 general election.
If the court ruling is made at a time too late for the normal primary election, which is scheduled for May 19, the bills would allow new special primary elections for the impacted State Senate and congressional districts to be held in "a manner that does not affect the 2026 General Election date set in November 2026."
The House bill says, "A special primary election shall be required for the affected Congressional districts regardless of whether a regular primary election was held for the affected Congressional districts using the previous boundary lines."
RELATED: State Sen. Chris Elliott files bill allowing for option of redistricting special elections
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Under normal circumstances, Section 17-13-18 would govern elections. That statute says:
If no candidate receives a majority of all of the votes cast in such primary election for any one office or offices for the nomination to which there were more than two candidates, then there shall be held a second primary election on the fourth Tuesday following the primary election, and the chair of the state executive committee shall certify to the Secretary of State, immediately upon the completion of such canvass, the names of the two candidates of the party to receive the highest number of votes in the first primary election for such office or offices, except county officers, and who are to be voted for in the second primary election.
The House and Senate are both scheduled to convene at 9:00 a.m. on Friday.
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