By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama League of Municipalities executive committee will meet this week to decide whether to ask for a one-year delay of municipal elections due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The executive committee is expected to ask the state legislature to postpone municipal elections that are scheduled to be held on August 25, 2020, until 2021. 

If the Alabama League of Municipalities executive committee votes to postpone municipal elections, it will then be handed over to State Legislators to decide. The legislature will resume their session on April 28 and will be in session until May 18.  

The League states several reasons for the postponement. Congressional elections have been moved from March 31 to July 14. Two elections within such a short timeframe could possibly cause a hardship on county registrars. Registrars are charged with the task of keeping all eligible voter lists updated. The timeframe of the August 25 election could make that task difficult. 

The companies that provide the voting machines to the municipalities would also have difficulties in turnaround so quickly after the July election. 

For some municipalities, having two elections within a two-month timeframe would be financially difficult. The League cited the loss of revenue due to the coronavirus. 

The final reason for the proposed delay would be for health reasons. The League stated that the majority of poll workers are older. The older poll workers would be more susceptible to the coronavirus and possibly would not agree to work the polls. 

With the postponement of the municipal elections, elected officials would be serving a five-year term. According to the League, these officials would have the option to resign. These officials would be replaced through the means of replacement on record with the municipality.  

Southern Torch will continue to follow this developing story.