Government

Poll Watchers Have Strict Rules to Follow, and So Do Others at the Polls

So you want to be a poll watcher. It isn’t as easy as dropping into a polling place and plunking yourself down to observe the proceedings. First, in Alabama, you need to be appointed as a poll watcher for a specific party and a specific precinct. So two or three poll workers at each site is usually the limit. Poll workers also aren’t allowed to attempt to influence voters. In other words, teams of Trump supporters cannot independently call themselves “poll watchers” and stay to make sure nothing they think might be untoward is happening, as the president has urged them to do. But supporting a particular candidate does not disqualify someone from becoming a legal poll watcher, either. Read more. More stories from BirminghamWatch’s 2020 Voter Guide

Printable Sample Ballots for Jefferson and Shelby Counties

List of Candidates with Profiles

Your Guide to Alabama’s 2020 Constitutional Amendments

Voting by Absentee Ballot

Delor Baumann, 2020 general election

Assistant Tax Collector, Bessemer Division of Jefferson County Delor Baumann Republican Residence: Hueytown Political experience: Mayor of Hueytown, 2004-2016, defeated for re-election in 2016 runoff. Professional experience: Previously managed Baumann Coatings in Bessemer, 15 years. Civic experience: Member, Grace Lutheran Church; member, Hueytown Lions Club; member, Hueytown High School Quarterback Club; member, Hueytown Beautification Board.

Eric S. Burks, 2020 general election

Assistant Tax Collector, Bessemer Division of Jefferson County Eric S. Burks Democrat Residence: Hoover Political experience: First campaign for elected office; unopposed in Democratic primary. Professional experience: Chief deputy of Tax Collector’s Office for more than 10 years; over 35 years of managerial and leadership positions in engineering, business development, and state and local government.

John Stephens, 2020 general election

Jefferson County Deputy Treasurer, Bessemer Division John Stephens Republican Residence: Bessemer Political experience: First campaign for elected office; unopposed in GOP primary. Professional experience: Owner, Unclaimed Storage, Bessemer. Civic experience: Member, Canaan Baptist Church. Education: Bachelor’s in business administration, Samford University. Main issues: “The government exists to serve the people. As a small business owner,

Sherry McClain, 2020 general election

Jefferson County Deputy Treasurer, Bessemer Sherry McClain Democrat Age: age 58 Residence: Brighton Political Experience: Jefferson County deputy treasurer, 2013-present; member, State Democratic Executive Committee, Jefferson County Federation of Democratic Women, Jefferson County Democratic Conference, Alabama New South Coalition and Jefferson County New Citizen’s Coalition. Professional Experience: Jefferson County deputy treasurer, 2013-present; director of community

Stephanie Bell, 2020 general election

State Board of Education, District 3 Stephanie Bell Republican Age: 63 Residence: Montgomery Political experience: District 3 Alabama State Board of Education member, 1994-present; ran unsuccessfully for U.S. House of Representatives District 2, 2010. Professional experience: Reporter, Montgomery Advertiser and Alabama Journal, covering governmental affairs; teacher, English as a second language, Taichung YMCA, Taiwan. As

Jarralynne Agee, 2020 general election

State Board of Education, District 3 Jarralynne Agee Democrat Age: 51 Residence: Shelby County Political experience: Ran for this District 3 school board position in 2016, losing to incumbent Stephanie Bell. Member, Alabama Democratic Executive Committee and Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee. Professional experience: Provost/vice president, Miles College, 2020-present; executive director/liaison for grants and charitable

Laura Casey, 2020 general election

Alabama Public Service Commission President Laura Casey Democrat Age: 48 Residence: Hoover Political experience: Defeated Robert Mardis III in the Democratic primary on March 3. Was Democratic nominee for Alabama State Senate District 15 race in 2018 but withdrew before the general election. Professional experience: Clerk for state Supreme Court of New Jersey, 2001-2002; actuary,

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, 2020 general election

Alabama Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh Republican Age: 54 Residence: Montgomery Political experience: Public Service Commission president, 2010-present, won 2020 Republican primary over Robin Litaker on March 3; candidate for lieutenant governor, 2018 but defeated in primary. Professional experience: Co-owner, Cavanaugh Bradley Animal Hospital, Montgomery; co-owner, Conservative Solutions, Montgomery; deputy chief of staff/senior

Jonathan O. Barbee, 2020 general election

Jonathan O. Barbee’s name is on the ballot as a candidate for tax assessor, but he’s no longer seeking the office. Instead, he is running for constable.