If a voter participates in the primary election of one political party, that voter cannot participate in the primary runoff of the other.
That’s the new law in Alabama designed to prevent voters from switching parties between a primary and any subsequent runoff.
Senate Bill 108 was introduced by Republican Sen. Tom Whatley who has pushed for the legislation for three years. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the measure into law after its approval by the Alabama Legislature last month.
“If an elector votes in a primary election, he or she may vote in a subsequent primary runoff election only if he or she voted in the primary election of the same political party for which the runoff election is being held,” the new law says.
A special called election in Alabama to select a U.S. Senator is Aug. 15. With 11 Republican candidates and eight Democrats seeking the post, Secretary of State John Merrill said the new law will be in place for an anticipated September runoff in the race for the seat previously held by Sen. Jeff Sessions.
The Republican majorities in the House and Senate passed the bill over opposition from Democrats who have had a party rule prohibiting Republicans from voting in their runoffs for decades.
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