HB542 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jeff McLaughlin

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Judges, circuit, district, appellate, and Supreme Court Justices, nonpartisan election, special ballot for state judicial candidates, filing fee, Secs. 17-6-20, 17-6-24, 17-6-25, 17-6-48 am'd.

Summary

HB542 would make Alabama state judicial elections nonpartisan, use a dedicated nonpartisan ballot for judges, and create a filing-fee/indigency framework with funds split between the two major parties.

What This Bill Does

It would remove party labels from candidates for state judicial offices and place them on an Official Nonpartisan Judicial Ballot. It requires candidates to file declarations without party affiliation and to pay a qualifying fee equal to two percent of the current judicial salary, with the fee split between the two parties that received the most votes in the previous election; an affidavit of indigency can be filed instead of payment. The ballot would be redesigned to list all state judicial candidates on the nonpartisan ballot with a specified office order and a blank column for write-ins or additional names. If a candidate earns a majority in the initial nonpartisan election, that candidate appears on the general election ballot; if not, the top two advance to the general election, with ties resolved by lot.

Who It Affects

• State judicial office candidates: must run without party designation, file candidacy, and pay the two-percent qualifying fee (or file an affidavit of indigency); they will be listed on the Official Nonpartisan Judicial Ballot.
• Voters in Alabama: will vote on a nonpartisan judicial ballot without party symbols, with a majority rule and top-two advancement to the general election, and tie-breaking by lot if needed.

Key Provisions

• Nonpartisan election for state judicial offices and use of an Official Nonpartisan Judicial Ballot with no party designation.
• Filing and funding requirements: candidates must file without party designation; pay a qualifying fee equal to two percent of the current salary for the office, deposited and split between the two parties receiving the most votes in the previous election; an affidavit of indigency can substitute for the fee.
• Ballot design and office order: ballots list all state judicial offices in a fixed order, with a separate nonpartisan section labeled Official Nonpartisan Judicial Ballot and appropriate place numbers for each office.
• Election results and tie-breaks: if a candidate gains a majority in the initial nonpartisan election, they appear on the general ballot; if no majority, the top two advance to the general ballot; ties are resolved by lot by the Chief Justice (or senior Associate Justice) in the Governor’s presence.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections