The bill amends Section 11-46-55 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to clarify the procedures for municipal elections, particularly regarding the canvassing of votes and the process for runoff elections. Key changes include the removal of the specific time "12:00" noon for the opening of election envelopes and the introduction of new language that allows the municipal governing body to canvass results before the first Tuesday after the election if provisional ballot results are available. Additionally, the definition of a majority vote has been updated to replace "one half" with "one-half," and the term "second most" has been changed to "second-most" for clarity.

The bill also outlines the conditions under which a runoff election is required, specifying that if no candidate receives a majority of votes, a runoff will occur on the fourth Tuesday following the regular election. It introduces provisions for situations where a candidate withdraws or dies before the runoff, eliminating the need for a second election in such cases. Furthermore, it establishes procedures for resolving tie votes in runoff elections, including the disqualification of judges of probate who have participated in promoting candidates. The act is set to take effect on June 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 11-46-55
Enrolled: 11-46-55