Fountain
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Wednesday morning that the primary elections scheduled for March 31 have been postponed until July 14 and the last day to apply for an absentee ballot has been set for July 9.
Races on the ballot in Escambia County, Ala., include the Democratic runoff between James Averhart and Kianai A. Gardner for the U.S. House of Representatives' First Congressional District.
On the Republican ticket, Jeff Sessions and Tommy Tuberville will face off in the race for the U.S. Senate; Jerry Carl and Bill Hightower will be in the runoff for the U.S. House of Representatives' First Congressional District; and Beth Kellum and Will Smith will vie for the GOP nomination for Place 2 on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
Escambia County Circuit Clerk John Robert Fountain, who also serves as the absentee election manager for the county, confirmed that July 9 is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the runoffs.
He also said due to the closure of the courthouse to the public, people can request an absentee ballot application by mailing the request to P.O. Box 856, Brewton, Ala., 36427.
Fountain said he will be at the courthouse working and checking the mail every day. Once he receives the application, he will mail the ballot.
Ballots can then be mailed back to the same address.
He also said he will have a table set up in front of the courthouse with applications available to be picked up and mailed back to his office.
Ivey made the decision to postpone the runoff after seeking an attorney general's opinion from Attorney General Steve Marshall.
Secretary of State John Merrill then recommended the July 14 date so the runoff would not interfere with the November General Election.
