Municipal elections: Let your voice be heard on Aug. 26
Qualifying for municipal races across the state, including Franklin County, closed on June 24 leaving several contested races leading up to the Aug. 26 elections.
Four of Franklin’s cities or towns will have contested races – Red Bay, Russellville, Phil Campbell and Vina, where voters will elect a new mayor as incumbent Michael Moomaw did not qualify to seek re-election.
Four of Russellville’s five council seats are being contested. Red Bay and Phil Campbell both have one council seat being contested It’s refreshing to see these races with so many candidates running for office within our towns and cities.
It means the people who are seeking offices are genuinely interested in the futures of their towns and cities. They should be commended for their decisions to seek election.
Once they have been cleared by the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office as a verified candidate for office, the work continues as these candidates take part in forums or go door to door seeking support from voters.
Now, it’s up to you, the potential voters, to do your job.
Potential voters in municipal elections have until July 27 to establish residency to vote.
Once you have established residency, you have until Aug. 11 to register to vote, according to the election guideline provided
Municipalities.
If you haven’t registered to vote, we urge you to do so.
The municipal elections will be on Aug. 26. If there is a runoff, it will be held on Sept. 23.
Once all runoffs are concluded, those elected will take office on Nov. 3.
Every vote counts, and every candidate is counting on you, the electorate, to go to the polls and cast your ballot. Often the turnout is municipal elections is light, which means the selection of the men and women who will be running your city is being made by a very small percentage of voters.
These elections are as important as the county, state and national elections that occur in the General Elections. Why? Because the individuals elected will be acting on issues that are unique to each of your individual communities. Their decisions impact the schools your children attend, the local taxes you pay, the streets you drive each day, the garbage collected from your homes and businesses each week, and countless other issues.
If you are a registered voter, we hope that you exercise that right. If you can’t make it to the polls on election day, then sign up to vote by absentee ballot.
You, as a voter, have a say about who will represent you in your town or city.
Let your voice be heard. We’ll see you at the polls on Aug. 26.
