If you've checked your sample ballot in Baldwin County, do you see local names largely missing?
While the nation looks to Tuesday for its presidential and general election spanning national, state and local races, candidates looking to run for city positions in Alabama have their sights set for next year.
A four-year rotation that had been in place since the '80s was elongated in 2021 when state lawmakers voted to postpone most city elections across Alabama to 2025, extending the terms of those elected in 2020 by one year.
Officials said the move was made to be able to hold municipal elections on an off-year from the presidential election, citing poll worker fatigue, voter confusion over voting venues and equipment shortages as reasons for the shift.
Cities that were affected, which includes all municipal elections in Baldwin County, will hold Election Day on Aug. 26, 2025.
Elberta Mayor Jim Hamby said in 2022 that he will serve the four years to which he was elected but will step down before the end of his extended term in 2025.
"I didn't sign on for that. Eight years is enough for George Washington. Eight years is enough for Jim Hamby. I'm not comparing myself to George Washington. I'm just following his example," he told Gulf Coast Media in 2022.
Elberta Town Council will appoint a replacement to serve the remaining year of the extended term.
Qualifying opens June 10, 2025, at 8 a.m. and closes June 24, 2025, at 5 p.m. Qualifying is done through the city clerk.
Any necessary runoffs will take place Sept. 23, 2025, and those elected will be sworn in Nov. 3, 2025.
To qualify to run for municipal office, a candidate must be a resident and qualified elector of their city and must live within city limits during the term of office. Council candidates must live within their district, in city limits, during the term of the office.
Candidates must have lived within the municipality, and district for council seat, for at least 90 days on Election Day.
