SB259 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve LivingstonSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: DeKalb Co., City of Fort Payne, city council, election of members further provided for, vacancies, Sec. 45-25A-40 am'd.
Summary: SB 259 updates Fort Payne's city council election rules and vacancy procedures by removing district-style seat designations and outlining new runoff and appointment processes.
What This Bill Does
The bill prohibits designating council seats by place numbers and changes five-seat elections to a system where the top ten vote-getters go to a runoff, with winners determined by a calculated majority. If a candidate receives a majority, they are elected; if more candidates have a majority than seats, the highest totals beyond the majority fill the remaining seats. If fewer than five candidates reach a majority, a runoff is held with up to twice the number of remaining seats. Vacancies are handled based on duration: long vacancies trigger a special election, while vacancies within a certain window of quadrennial elections with a mayor are filled by appointment within 30 days to serve the remainder of the term; other election provisions remain in effect and the act takes effect immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects
Residents and voters of the City of Fort Payne, as they would participate in a new runoff voting process and be affected by the lack of seat-numbered districts.
Fort Payne city council members and the mayor, who will implement the new election rules, runoff procedures, and vacancy appointments or special elections.

Key Provisions
45-25A-40(a): The city shall not designate council seats by place numbers or similar district-based methods.
45-25A-40(b): In elections for five council seats, the ten candidates with the most votes enter a runoff; if more than five have the top votes, the five winners are determined by a calculated majority threshold based on total votes and number of seats.
45-25A-40(b)(2)-(3): If a candidate has a majority in the initial election, they are elected; if more candidates have a majority than seats, the top vote-getters beyond the majority fill the remaining seats.
45-25A-40(c): If fewer than five candidates reach a majority, a runoff is held with up to twice the number of remaining seats; the runoff elects the remaining positions by highest votes without a required majority.
45-25A-40(d)-(e): Vacancies lasting longer than the specified period are filled by a special election pro rata for the term; vacancies within the window near quadrennial elections with a mayor are filled by appointment within 30 days to serve the unexpired term; office requirements and fees remain set by city council resolutions, and other election laws stay in effect.
Effective date: The act becomes law immediately after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: DeKalb County