HB144 Alabama 2022 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Sam JonesRepresentative
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2022
Title: Elections, municipal elections, runoff elections eliminated when only two candidates run and there is a tie; county and precinct elections, tie votes, decided by judge of probate by lot
Summary: HB144 eliminates runoff elections for two-candidate municipal races in a tie and uses lot-based tie-breaking for two-candidate county/precinct races.
What This Bill Does
In municipal elections with exactly two candidates, the bill removes the requirement to hold a second or runoff election if there is no majority. For county or precinct offices, a tie between the two highest candidates would be decided by lot by the judge of probate. The bill keeps existing rules for calculating majorities in other multi-candidate or multi-office races and requires certificates of election to be filed with the judge of probate, the Secretary of State, and the Alabama League of Municipalities, with the act taking effect immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects
Municipalities and residents in cities or towns with two-candidate offices: runoff elections would no longer be required in a tie, altering how winners are determined in those municipal races; two-candidate municipal candidates are affected by the changed tie resolution process.
Counties and precincts (county/precinct offices) and related election officials: ties between the two highest candidates for those offices are decided by lot by the judge of probate, with rules about disqualification and replacement if the probate judge participated in campaigning.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 11-46-55 to remove the runoff requirement for two-candidate municipal elections when there is a tie, while maintaining runoff rules for other scenarios.
Preserves majority calculations for single-office and multi-office races that involve more than two candidates, but clarifies the runoff process remains where applicable (except the two-candidate municipal case).
In county/precinct elections, ties between the two highest candidates are decided by lot by the judge of probate in the county; the process must occur in the presence of candidates, with disqualification rules if the probate judge participated in promoting the election.
Section 17-12-23 directs that ties for two highest candidates in county/precinct offices be decided by lot by the sheriff judge of probate, and for certain state offices, by the Secretary of State with the Governor present; if the probate judge is disqualified, the presiding circuit court judge handles the tie.
Requires certificates of election to be filed within 10 days with the judge of probate, the Secretary of State, and the Alabama League of Municipalities.
Effective date: immediately following governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Elections