2009 Birmingham municipal election

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The 2009 Birmingham City Council election will be held on August 25, 2009, with a runoff on October 6. The ballot will also include Birmingham Board of Education elections.

The council voted on March to change the election date to August from October 13 after being advised by city attorney Lawrence Cooper that more than the usual three weeks would be needed between the election and any runoffs in order to meet the requirements of the federal "Help America to Vote" act. Cooper's office waited until May 7 before applying to the U. S. Department of Justice for approval of the new schedule. A decision was returned on June 20, just days before it would have been too late to make the change.

Polling locations were changed for this election after the passage of Act No. 2008-416, sponsored by Mary Moore in the Alabama Legislature. Under the new law voters report to the same locations as for statewide elections, necessitating that some precincts distribute more than one ballot depending on the individual voter's council district.

In order to appear on the ballot, candidates had to file qualification papers at the Jefferson County Probate Court by 5:00 PM on August 4.

Due to its debt crisis, Jefferson County informed the city that it would be unable to deliver and test voting machines to the city's 78 voting precincts. The city plans to use its own workers to deliver and set up the machines. In addition the city will reimburse the county $118,000 for other election-related expenses.

City Council candidates

The following list of candidates includes all incumbents and those challengers who have formally filed in probate court.

Board of Education candidates

Birmingham City Council
District 1 Clinton Woods District 4 J. T. Moore District 7 Wardine Alexander
District 2 Hunter Williams District 5 Darrell O'Quinn District 8 Carol Clarke
District 3 Valerie Abbott District 6 Crystal Smitherman District 9 LaTonya Tate

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References

  • Natta, André (November 18, 2008) "Let the 2009 city council races begin." The Terminal
  • Lewis, Jessie (March 11, 2009) "One Man's Opinion"
  • Kennedy, Joey (March 19, 2009) "Will there be new faces on the Birmingham City Council?" Birmingham News
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (June 16, 2009) "Birmingham city election date still unsettled, week remains until early date possibility dies." Birmingham News
  • Williams, Roy L. (June 21, 2009) "Justice Department approves Birmingham officials' request to move election to Aug. 25." Birmingham News
  • Ruisi, Anne (July 6, 2009) "Birmingham, Alabama city council, school board have candidates qualifying." Birmingham News
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (July 12, 2009) "Birmingham City Council race rivals Carole Smitherman, Sheila Tyson skirmish in radio ads." Birmingham News
  • Ruisi, Anne (July 25, 2009) "Number of Birmingham, Alabama council, school board election qualifiers swells to 52." Birmingham News
  • Wright, Barnett & Joseph Bryant (July 27, 2009) "Jefferson County tells Birmingham it will limit support for Aug. 25 council, school board elections." Birmingham News
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (August 4, 2009) "New polling places in store for upcoming Birmingham elections." Birmingham News
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