SB103 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Class 1 municipalities (Birmingham), municipal elections, reenactment with minor modification, Act 302, 1915 repealed
Summary: SB103 reenacts the Class 1 city election rules with a new process to replace officials who run for office and repeals Act 302.
What This Bill Does
If enacted, it keeps the Class 1 city election commission as the mayor, city attorney, and the president of the city council, but adds specific replacement rules when those leaders are candidates. If the mayor or the president is a candidate, a non-candidate council member would serve on the election commission for that election; if both are candidates, two non-candidate council members would serve; if all council members are candidates, senior staff would fill in. The commission would run all municipal elections (including bond, initiative, referendum, and recall), appoint election staff, designate polling places, prepare ballots, rule on petitions, canvass and declare results, and hold ballots until the contest period ends before destroying them. It would require notice of elections and pay expenses from the city treasury; Act 302 would be repealed, and the act would take effect immediately after the governor signs it.

Who It Affects
Residents of Class 1 municipalities (such as Birmingham) who vote in municipal elections, because the commission would administer elections and set rules.
City officials in Class 1 municipalities (mayor, city attorney, president of the city council, and council members) due to defined roles on the election commission and replacement rules when they are candidates.
City staff and taxpayers, because the city treasury would pay election expenses and senior staff may serve on the commission if needed.

Key Provisions
Section 1 creates the election commission for Class 1 municipalities to include the mayor, city attorney, and the president of the city council, with replacement rules if leaders are candidates.
Replacement rules state that a non-candidate council member serves if the mayor or council president is a candidate; two non-candidate council members serve if both are candidates; if all council members are candidates, senior staff fill in.
The election commission runs all municipal elections (including bond, initiative, referendum, and recall), appoints election staff, designates polling places and ballots, rules on petitions, canvasses and declares results, preserves ballots until the contest period ends, and destroys them afterward; two members form a quorum and the city clerk serves as secretary.
Section 2 repeals Act 302 (approved August 27, 1915); Section 3 becomes effective immediately after the governor signs the act; expenses are paid from the city treasury.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Class 1