Know your legislative districts for voting

Published 8:00 am Friday, May 23, 2014

Secretary of State Jim Bennett has reminded St. Clair County voters that changes made to legislative districts during the 2012 reapportionment process go into effect for the 2014 statewide elections cycle.

“The legislative district that you voted in last time may not be the same district that you will be voting on in June,” said Bennett.  “Not all voters have been changed to new districts, but some have.”

For St. Clair County, legislative district lines have changed.  In the June 3 primary election, the majority of local voters will cast ballots to give either Rep. Jim McClendon or Sen. Jerry Fielding the Republican nomination for state senator from the new District 11.  

Voters in the northeast portions of the county are now part of District 17.  The field of Republican candidates in the primary includes Pinson city councilman Joe Cochran, Gardendale attorney Gayle H. Gear, attorney and Blount County native Brett King, Oneonta businessman Jim Murphree, National Guard sergeant and Corner resident Adam Ritch, Gardendale attorney Jim Roberts, and teacher and real estate developer Shay Shelnutt of Palmerdale.

St. Clair was divided into four House districts during the 2012 reapportionment.  Ashville Mayor Robert McKay is seeking election to District 30, opposing Rep. Mack Butler in the Republican primary.  District 30 comprises the western portion of the county, including Springville and Moody.

Rep. Dickie Drake of Leeds is unopposed in his re-election bid in District 45, as is Rep. Randy Wood in District 36, which includes Pell City.  Retired Presiding Circuit Court Judge Jim Hill is unopposed in the Republican primary for District 50, which includes Ashville, Ragland, and Riverside.

No local Democrats are seeking party nomination for the legislature in next week’s primary.

The secretary of state encouraged voters who are unsure about which legislative districts they reside in to visit the website www.alabamavotes.gov.  “A voter can visit our website and find out very easily if something has been changed,” Bennett said.  “The website follows the detailed lines that were put in by the registrars themselves at the local level so it will be an accurate reflection of what voters will encounter.

“If there are further questions, a voter can also call their local board of registrars office,” he added.   “We want every voter to be an informed voter.  There very well may be changes that a voter will see when they go to the polls in June, so we encourage voters to check so there is no confusion when they read their ballot.”