Cleburne Results

These weren't available at press time last night. Here's the Cleburne County tally:

Probate Judge: Ryan Robertson, R — 3,305 votes, 80.22 percent; Pete Jackson, D — 813 votes, 19.73 percent.
County Commission District 2: Tracy Lambert, R — 539 votes, 50.05 percent; Beverly Casey, D — 537 votes, 49.86 percent.
County Commission District 3: Dwight Williamson, R — 640 votes, 54.19 percent; Jerry Stapler, D — 540 votes, 45.72 percent.
County Sheriff: Joe Jacks, D — 2,907 votes, 97.22 percent; Write-in votes — 83 votes, 2.78 percent.
Coroner: Rudy Rooks, D — 2,900 votes, 98.98 percent.
Board of Education District 2: Lance Taylor, D — 799 votes, 99.50 percent; Write-in votes — 4 at .5 percent.
Board of Education District 4: Ted Campbell, D — 674 votes, 98.68 percent; Write-in votes — 9 votes at .5 percent.
Circuit Judge, 7th Circuit: Malcolm Street, D — 2,503 votes, 98.7 percent; Write-in votes — 33
votes at 1.3 percent.
Circuit Clerk: Jerry Paul Owen, D — 2,948 votes, 98.60 percent; Write-in votes — 42 votes at 1.4 percent.
Contact Matt Kasper at mkasper@annistonstar.com or 235-3546.

Morning update: Who controls the Senate?

Re control of the Senate: Not too much has changed since this morning's paper went to press.
Here's the latest from Reuters:
Reuters:

"A potential recount and possible legal challenges in Virginia could delay the final result, dredging up memories of the 2000 presidential election recount that lasted five weeks.
"Virginia Democrat James Webb had an 8,000-vote advantage over Republican Sen. George Allen out of more than 2 million cast. A recount could stretch into December, leaving Senate control uncertain.
"In Montana, Democrat Jon Tester also held a narrow lead on Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, but a final result was not expected until later on Wednesday."

Calling Calhoun County's District 2 Commissioner

I covered Calhoun County's District 2 Commission Seat, which is now a lock for the incumbent, Democrat Robert Downing. This will be his fourth term.

Downing has said his district is one of the fastest growing in the county and one that trends Republican. He has faced a general election challenge in every race since 1994. This year he ran against Jimmy O'Dell Chairman of the Anniston Water Works and Sewer board.

O'Dell did not concede until 12 out of 13 of boxes reported. (The 13 usually consists of provisional ballots. Ninety-two percent of votes were counted by a little after 10 p.m.)

Downing's victory seemed certain around 9 p.m. Wanting to catch him in the midst of his celebration, I swung by his house in the way back from the Calhoun County Sheriff's office. Downing was very happy, as one might expect, and I received multiple offers of champagne and food, which I politely declined.

Because of a tight deadline, I was unable to make it out to O'Dell's home in Golden Springs, but he was very polite to me and was clearly disappointed by his loss.

That's the thing about covering these small, local races; most of the men and women I meet who are running for office do it because they genuinely believe they have something to offer their community. They're good folks. And one of the worst parts of this job is having to interview a good man who's just lost a relatively clean race in his most vulnerable moment.

O'Dell took his licks, but I hope it isn't his last foray into the political arena. Democracy is always in need of good people.

Hail and farewell

The frequent knock against Lucy Baxley, throughout her campaign, was that she failed to define herself, particularly in contrast to a popular incumbent like Bob Riley.

Tuesday night, in an elegant and statesmanlike concession speech, she defined herself thus:

"To come from where I grew up in Alabama, dreaming that one day I could serve you, the great people of this state, in public office, and then allow you to have me serve eight years as your state treasurer, and then as your lieutenant governor, and stand before you tonight as the Democratic nominee for the governor of the state of Alabama, it is a victory. It is a victory for the American dream, of what can happen in Alabama."

53 of 54 precincts

VOTES PERCENT
Calhoun County
PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 54) . . . . . 53 98.15
BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 29,923

STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
DEMOCRATIC (DEM) . . . . . . . . 5,133 58.52
REPUBLICAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 3,639 41.48
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 21,151

FOR GOVERNOR
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
LUCY BAXLEY (DEM). . . . . . . . 11,733 39.70
BOB RILEY (REP) . . . . . . . . 17,525 59.30
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 297 1.00
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 410

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JIM FOLSOM, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 14,517 49.36
LUTHER STRANGE (REP). . . . . . . 14,834 50.44
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 58 .20
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 554

FOR U. S. REPRESENTATIVE, 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
GREG A. PIERCE (DEM). . . . . . . 8,158 27.74
MIKE ROGERS (REP). . . . . . . . 20,606 70.07
MARK EDWIN LAYFIELD (IND) . . . . . 633 2.15
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 12 .04
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 555

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JOHN TYSON, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 12,430 42.95
TROY KING (REP) . . . . . . . . 16,486 56.96
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,021

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 11
(WITH 12 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.31%)
JIM PREUITT (DEM). . . . . . . . 2,786 77.45
JIM HETHCOX (REP). . . . . . . . 806 22.41
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 5 .14
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 197

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 12
(WITH 43 OF 44 PRECINCTS COUNTED 97.73%)
DEL MARSH (REP) . . . . . . . . 18,687 98.01
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 379 1.99
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 7,092

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 32
(WITH 13 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.86%)
BARBARA BIGSBY BOYD (DEM) . . . . . 2,998 72.35
BEN LITTLE (REP) . . . . . . . . 1,142 27.56
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 188

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 35
(WITH 9 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 90%)
STEVE HURST (DEM). . . . . . . . 3,422 65.07
LONNIE C. ROBINSON (REP) . . . . . 1,833 34.85
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 222

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 36
(WITH 13 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.86%)
RANDY WOOD (REP) . . . . . . . . 6,128 98.38
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 101 1.62
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,992

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 40
(WITH 23 OF 24 PRECINCTS COUNTED 95.83%)
LEA FITE (DEM). . . . . . . . . 5,946 51.58
TOM SHELTON (REP). . . . . . . . 5,553 48.17
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 29 .25
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 396

FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
SUE BELL COBB (DEM) . . . . . . . 14,883 51.12
DRAYTON NABERS, JR. (REP) . . . . . 14,195 48.76
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 35 .12
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 849

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
CHAMP LYONS, JR. (REP) . . . . . . 19,013 97.95
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 397 2.05
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 10,542

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
GWENDOLYN THOMAS KENNEDY (DEM) . . . 11,263 41.03
TOM WOODALL (REP). . . . . . . . 16,159 58.87
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,513

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
ALBERT L. "AL" JOHNSON (DEM) . . . . 11,131 40.59
LYN STUART (REP) . . . . . . . . 16,266 59.31
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,538

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 4
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JOHN H. ENGLAND, JR. (DEM). . . . . 11,868 42.78
GLENN MURDOCK (REP) . . . . . . . 15,843 57.11
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,223

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
RAY VAUGHAN (DEM). . . . . . . . 12,212 45.04
TERRY MOORE (REP). . . . . . . . 14,877 54.87
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 26 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,848

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
KIMBERLY HARBISON DRAKE (DEM). . . . 12,742 47.61
CRAIG PITTMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 13,998 52.30
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,198

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JIM MCFERRIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 11,598 43.31
TERRI WILLINGHAM THOMAS (REP). . . . 15,155 56.60
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,186

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
AUBREY FORD, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 11,470 42.72
GREG SHAW (REP) . . . . . . . . 15,347 57.16
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 30 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,115

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
CLAUDE E. PATTON (DEM) . . . . . . 11,473 42.91
KELLI WISE (REP) . . . . . . . . 15,243 57.00
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,221

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
DEBORAH BELL PASEUR (DEM) . . . . . 12,948 47.93
SAM WELCH (REP) . . . . . . . . 14,049 52.01
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,948

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
NANCY L. WORLEY (DEM) . . . . . . 11,379 40.36
BETH CHAPMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 16,795 59.57
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 22 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,766

FOR STATE TREASURER
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
STEVE SEGREST (DEM) . . . . . . . 10,383 37.08
KAY IVEY (REP). . . . . . . . . 17,599 62.85
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 20 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,960

FOR STATE AUDITOR
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JANIE BAKER CLARKE (DEM) . . . . . 12,197 44.93
S. SAMANTHA "SAM" SHAW (REP) . . . . 14,928 54.99
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 21 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,814

FOR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
RON SPARKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 16,151 58.45
ALBERT LIPSCOMB (REP) . . . . . . 11,464 41.49
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 15 .05
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,331

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JAN COOK (DEM). . . . . . . . . 15,205 54.66
JOHN RICE (REP) . . . . . . . . 12,591 45.26
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 21 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,144

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
SUSAN PARKER (DEM) . . . . . . . 14,437 52.26
PERRY O. HOOPER, JR. (REP). . . . . 13,162 47.65
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 26 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,337

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE
NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
MALCOLM STREET, JR. (DEM) . . . . . 21,585 98.75
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 274 1.25
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 8,098

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE
NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
BRIAN HOWELL (DEM) . . . . . . . 16,806 59.32
RAY BRYAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 11,501 40.59
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,631

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
LAURA BROWN PHILLIPS (REP). . . . . 19,564 98.22
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 355 1.78
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 10,035

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
GUS COLVIN (DEM) . . . . . . . . 20,488 98.76
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 258 1.24
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 9,211

FOR CIRCUIT CLERK, CALHOUN COUNTY
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
TED HOOKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 21,284 98.99
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 217 1.01
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 8,458

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY JUDGE OF PROBATE
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
ALICE MARTIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 16,360 56.51
GEORGE E. SALMON (REP) . . . . . . 12,574 43.43
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,010

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 1
(WITH 12 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.31%)
JAMES A. "PAPPY" DUNN (DEM) . . . . 3,222 99.23
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .77
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 630

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 2
(WITH 12 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.31%)
ROBERT W. DOWNING (DEM). . . . . . 4,246 60.53
JIMMY O'DELL (REP) . . . . . . . 2,763 39.39
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 316

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 3
(WITH 10 OF 11 PRECINCTS COUNTED 90.91%)
JAMES "ELI" HENDERSON (DEM) . . . . 4,135 97.11
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 123 2.89
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,672

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 4
(WITH 9 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 90%)
J. D. HESS (REP) . . . . . . . . 4,726 97.50
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 121 2.50
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,676

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 5
(WITH 14 OF 15 PRECINCTS COUNTED 93.33%)
RUDY ABBOTT (DEM). . . . . . . . 4,488 98.81
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 54 1.19
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,754

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY SHERIFF
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
LARRY D. AMERSON (DEM) . . . . . . 19,445 66.31
JASON "HOSS" CAMPBELL (REP) . . . . 9,844 33.57
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 37 .13
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 636

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY CORONER
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
PATRICK BROWN (DEM) . . . . . . . 14,720 52.74
MARVIN SOUTHARD (REP) . . . . . . 13,160 47.15
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 31 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,051

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, PLACE
NO. 1-7
VOTE FOR 7
(WITH 44 OF 45 PRECINCTS COUNTED 97.78%)
MIKE D. ALMAROAD (DEM) . . . . . . 7,535 8.78
SHIRLEY MCGINNIS CASH (DEM) . . . . 6,283 7.32
ED DENHAM (DEM) . . . . . . . . 4,243 4.94
FRANCES HIGGINBOTHAM (DEM). . . . . 5,670 6.61
HOWARD "MOUSE" WALDREP (DEM) . . . . 6,264 7.30
DAVID L. ZEIGLER (DEM) . . . . . . 4,227 4.93
JANET J. BRITTAIN (REP). . . . . . 6,614 7.71
JUNE EVANS (REP) . . . . . . . . 7,938 9.25
DAVID C. GILMORE (REP) . . . . . . 7,252 8.45
DALE HARBIN (REP). . . . . . . . 7,534 8.78
PHIL MURPHY (REP). . . . . . . . 6,772 7.89
LARRY STEWART (REP) . . . . . . . 7,150 8.33
TOM YOUNG (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,248 9.61
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 88 .10
WRTIE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 19,127

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (1)
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,716 45.66
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,371 54.34
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 10,865

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO (2)
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,791 58.91
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,621 41.09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,546

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE (3)
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,792 59.04
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,487 40.96
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 11,670

50 of 54 precincts reporting

VOTES PERCENT
Calhoun County
PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 54) . . . . . 50 92.59
BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 27,283

STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
DEMOCRATIC (DEM) . . . . . . . . 4,787 59.42
REPUBLICAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 3,269 40.58
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 19,227

FOR GOVERNOR
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
LUCY BAXLEY (DEM). . . . . . . . 10,895 40.47
BOB RILEY (REP) . . . . . . . . 15,745 58.49
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 280 1.04
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 363

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JIM FOLSOM, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 13,424 50.10
LUTHER STRANGE (REP). . . . . . . 13,320 49.71
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 53 .20
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 486

FOR U. S. REPRESENTATIVE, 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
GREG A. PIERCE (DEM). . . . . . . 7,548 28.19
MIKE ROGERS (REP). . . . . . . . 18,632 69.57
MARK EDWIN LAYFIELD (IND) . . . . . 589 2.20
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 11 .04
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 503

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JOHN TYSON, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 11,457 43.46
TROY KING (REP) . . . . . . . . 14,884 56.45
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 918

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 11
(WITH 11 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 84.62%)
JIM PREUITT (DEM). . . . . . . . 2,741 77.54
JIM HETHCOX (REP). . . . . . . . 789 22.32
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 5 .14
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 195

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 12
(WITH 40 OF 44 PRECINCTS COUNTED 90.91%)
DEL MARSH (REP) . . . . . . . . 16,798 98.05
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 334 1.95
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,421

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 32
(WITH 12 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 85.71%)
BARBARA BIGSBY BOYD (DEM) . . . . . 2,946 72.58
BEN LITTLE (REP) . . . . . . . . 1,109 27.32
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 182

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 35
(WITH 8 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 80%)
STEVE HURST (DEM). . . . . . . . 3,381 65.26
LONNIE C. ROBINSON (REP) . . . . . 1,796 34.67
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 216

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 36
(WITH 10 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 71.43%)
RANDY WOOD (REP) . . . . . . . . 4,479 98.55
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 66 1.45
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,373

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 40
(WITH 22 OF 24 PRECINCTS COUNTED 91.67%)
LEA FITE (DEM). . . . . . . . . 5,843 51.52
TOM SHELTON (REP). . . . . . . . 5,470 48.23
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .25
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 386

FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
SUE BELL COBB (DEM) . . . . . . . 13,761 51.89
DRAYTON NABERS, JR. (REP) . . . . . 12,727 47.99
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 32 .12
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 763

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
CHAMP LYONS, JR. (REP) . . . . . . 17,215 97.92
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 366 2.08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 9,702

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
GWENDOLYN THOMAS KENNEDY (DEM) . . . 10,415 41.65
TOM WOODALL (REP). . . . . . . . 14,565 58.24
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,275

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
ALBERT L. "AL" JOHNSON (DEM) . . . . 10,295 41.21
LYN STUART (REP) . . . . . . . . 14,662 58.69
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 26 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,300

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 4
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JOHN H. ENGLAND, JR. (DEM). . . . . 10,940 43.28
GLENN MURDOCK (REP) . . . . . . . 14,308 56.61
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 27 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,008

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
RAY VAUGHAN (DEM). . . . . . . . 11,281 45.66
TERRY MOORE (REP). . . . . . . . 13,403 54.24
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,574

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
KIMBERLY HARBISON DRAKE (DEM). . . . 11,785 48.33
CRAIG PITTMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 12,576 51.57
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 23 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,899

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JIM MCFERRIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 10,718 43.93
TERRI WILLINGHAM THOMAS (REP). . . . 13,657 55.98
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 23 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,885

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
AUBREY FORD, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 10,596 43.33
GREG SHAW (REP) . . . . . . . . 13,830 56.56
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,829

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
CLAUDE E. PATTON (DEM) . . . . . . 10,592 43.50
KELLI WISE (REP) . . . . . . . . 13,735 56.41
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 23 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,933

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
DEBORAH BELL PASEUR (DEM) . . . . . 11,964 48.61
SAM WELCH (REP) . . . . . . . . 12,633 51.32
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,669

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
NANCY L. WORLEY (DEM) . . . . . . 10,520 41.00
BETH CHAPMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 15,118 58.92
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 20 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,625

FOR STATE TREASURER
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
STEVE SEGREST (DEM) . . . . . . . 9,612 37.70
KAY IVEY (REP). . . . . . . . . 15,869 62.24
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,786

FOR STATE AUDITOR
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JANIE BAKER CLARKE (DEM) . . . . . 11,278 45.60
S. SAMANTHA "SAM" SHAW (REP) . . . . 13,436 54.33
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,551

FOR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
RON SPARKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 14,906 59.18
ALBERT LIPSCOMB (REP) . . . . . . 10,265 40.76
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 15 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,097

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JAN COOK (DEM). . . . . . . . . 14,007 55.29
JOHN RICE (REP) . . . . . . . . 11,308 44.63
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 20 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,948

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
SUSAN PARKER (DEM) . . . . . . . 13,350 53.08
PERRY O. HOOPER, JR. (REP). . . . . 11,780 46.83
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 23 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,130

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE
NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
MALCOLM STREET, JR. (DEM) . . . . . 19,732 98.70
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 260 1.30
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 7,291

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE
NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
BRIAN HOWELL (DEM) . . . . . . . 15,340 59.55
RAY BRYAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 10,398 40.36
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,521

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
LAURA BROWN PHILLIPS (REP). . . . . 17,734 98.21
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 323 1.79
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 9,226

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
GUS COLVIN (DEM) . . . . . . . . 18,773 98.70
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 247 1.30
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 8,263

FOR CIRCUIT CLERK, CALHOUN COUNTY
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
TED HOOKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 19,458 98.94
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 208 1.06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 7,617

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY JUDGE OF PROBATE
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
ALICE MARTIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 14,986 56.89
GEORGE E. SALMON (REP) . . . . . . 11,339 43.04
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 940

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 1
(WITH 11 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 84.62%)
JAMES A. "PAPPY" DUNN (DEM) . . . . 3,164 99.22
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .78
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 623

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 2
(WITH 9 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 69.23%)
ROBERT W. DOWNING (DEM). . . . . . 2,924 61.16
JIMMY O'DELL (REP) . . . . . . . 1,852 38.74
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 5 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 215

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 3
(WITH 9 OF 11 PRECINCTS COUNTED 81.82%)
JAMES "ELI" HENDERSON (DEM) . . . . 4,076 97.09
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 122 2.91
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,652

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 4
(WITH 8 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 80%)
J. D. HESS (REP) . . . . . . . . 4,675 97.48
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 121 2.52
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,651

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 5
(WITH 13 OF 15 PRECINCTS COUNTED 86.67%)
RUDY ABBOTT (DEM). . . . . . . . 4,408 98.79
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 54 1.21
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,716

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY SHERIFF
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
LARRY D. AMERSON (DEM) . . . . . . 17,706 66.27
JASON "HOSS" CAMPBELL (REP) . . . . 8,977 33.60
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 35 .13
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 565

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY CORONER
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
PATRICK BROWN (DEM) . . . . . . . 13,602 53.43
MARVIN SOUTHARD (REP) . . . . . . 11,828 46.46
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 29 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,824

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, PLACE
NO. 1-7
VOTE FOR 7
(WITH 41 OF 45 PRECINCTS COUNTED 91.11%)
MIKE D. ALMAROAD (DEM) . . . . . . 7,313 8.83
SHIRLEY MCGINNIS CASH (DEM) . . . . 6,094 7.36
ED DENHAM (DEM) . . . . . . . . 4,120 4.97
FRANCES HIGGINBOTHAM (DEM). . . . . 5,509 6.65
HOWARD "MOUSE" WALDREP (DEM) . . . . 6,069 7.33
DAVID L. ZEIGLER (DEM) . . . . . . 4,085 4.93
JANET J. BRITTAIN (REP). . . . . . 6,370 7.69
JUNE EVANS (REP) . . . . . . . . 7,668 9.26
DAVID C. GILMORE (REP) . . . . . . 6,968 8.41
DALE HARBIN (REP). . . . . . . . 7,249 8.75
PHIL MURPHY (REP). . . . . . . . 6,500 7.85
LARRY STEWART (REP) . . . . . . . 6,879 8.30
TOM YOUNG (REP) . . . . . . . . 7,938 9.58
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 84 .10
WRTIE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 18,448

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (1)
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,858 45.16
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,544 54.84
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 9,881

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO (2)
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,479 58.66
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,795 41.34
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,009

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE (3)
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,777 58.62
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,903 41.38
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 10,603

30 of 54 precincts reporting

PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 54) . . . . . 30 55.56

BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 16,494

STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

DEMOCRATIC (DEM) . . . . . . . . 3,096 63.38
REPUBLICAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 1,789 36.62
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 11,609

FOR GOVERNOR (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

LUCY BAXLEY (DEM). . . . . . . . 6,833 41.99
BOB RILEY (REP) . . . . . . . . 9,285 57.06
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 155 .95
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 221

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JIM FOLSOM, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 8,330 51.41
LUTHER STRANGE (REP). . . . . . . 7,840 48.38
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 34 .21
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 290

FOR U. S. REPRESENTATIVE, 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

GREG A. PIERCE (DEM). . . . . . . 4,805 29.75
MIKE ROGERS (REP). . . . . . . . 11,009 68.15
MARK EDWIN LAYFIELD (IND) . . . . . 333 2.06
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6 .04
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 341

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JOHN TYSON, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 7,226 45.32
TROY KING (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,705 54.59
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 14 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 549

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 11 (WITH 9 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 69.23%)

JIM PREUITT (DEM). . . . . . . . 2,392 76.77
JIM HETHCOX (REP). . . . . . . . 720 23.11
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .13
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 183

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 12 (WITH 21 OF 44 PRECINCTS COUNTED 47.73%)

DEL MARSH (REP) . . . . . . . . 9,439 98.01
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 192 1.99
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,564

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 32 (WITH 9 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 64.29%)

BARBARA BIGSBY BOYD (DEM) . . . . . 2,444 73.55
BEN LITTLE (REP) . . . . . . . . 875 26.33
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .12
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 156

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 35 (WITH 4 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 40%)

STEVE HURST (DEM). . . . . . . . 1,348 69.27
LONNIE C. ROBINSON (REP) . . . . . 596 30.63
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 2 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 87

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 36 (WITH 6 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 42.86%)

RANDY WOOD (REP) . . . . . . . . 2,943 98.66
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 40 1.34
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 838

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 40 (WITH 12 OF 24 PRECINCTS COUNTED 50%)

LEA FITE (DEM). . . . . . . . . 3,361 48.67
TOM SHELTON (REP). . . . . . . . 3,524 51.04
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 20 .29
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 256

FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

SUE BELL COBB (DEM) . . . . . . . 8,570 53.46
DRAYTON NABERS, JR. (REP) . . . . . 7,439 46.40
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 22 .14
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 463

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

CHAMP LYONS, JR. (REP) . . . . . . 10,155 97.70
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 239
2.30 Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,100

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

GWENDOLYN THOMAS KENNEDY (DEM) . . . 6,508 43.18
TOM WOODALL (REP). . . . . . . . 8,548 56.71
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,422

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 3 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

ALBERT L. "AL" JOHNSON (DEM) . . . . 6,483 42.99
LYN STUART (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,582 56.91
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,413

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 4 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JOHN H. ENGLAND, JR. (DEM). . . . . 6,879 44.98
GLENN MURDOCK (REP) . . . . . . . 8,398 54.91
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .12
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,199

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

RAY VAUGHAN (DEM). . . . . . . . 7,085 47.52
TERRY MOORE (REP). . . . . . . . 7,809 52.37
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,583

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

KIMBERLY HARBISON DRAKE (DEM). . . . 7,365 50.07
CRAIG PITTMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 7,332 49.85
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 12 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,785

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JIM MCFERRIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 6,776 45.93
TERRI WILLINGHAM THOMAS (REP). . . . 7,963 53.98
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 13 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,742

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

AUBREY FORD, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 6,713 45.52
GREG SHAW (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,019 54.37
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,746

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

CLAUDE E. PATTON (DEM) . . . . . . 6,683 45.47
KELLI WISE (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,003 54.46
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,798

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

DEBORAH BELL PASEUR (DEM) . . . . . 7,540 50.69
SAM WELCH (REP) . . . . . . . . 7,324 49.24
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,620

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

NANCY L. WORLEY (DEM) . . . . . . 6,596 42.58
BETH CHAPMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 8,886 57.36
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,002

FOR STATE TREASURER (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

STEVE SEGREST (DEM) . . . . . . . 6,075 39.52
KAY IVEY (REP). . . . . . . . . 9,284 60.40
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 12 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,123

FOR STATE AUDITOR (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JANIE BAKER CLARKE (DEM) . . . . . 7,116 47.71
S. SAMANTHA "SAM" SHAW (REP) . . . . 7,790 52.23
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,578

FOR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

RON SPARKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 9,199 60.49
ALBERT LIPSCOMB (REP) . . . . . . 5,998 39.44
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,287

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JAN COOK (DEM). . . . . . . . . 8,745 57.17
JOHN RICE (REP) . . . . . . . . 6,537 42.73
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 15 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,197

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

SUSAN PARKER (DEM) . . . . . . . 8,293 54.59
PERRY O. HOOPER, JR. (REP). . . . . 6,882 45.30
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,303

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

MALCOLM STREET, JR. (DEM) . . . . . 12,101 98.75
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 153 1.25
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 4,240

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

BRIAN HOWELL (DEM) . . . . . . . 9,679 61.91
RAY BRYAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 5,937 37.98
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 861

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

LAURA BROWN PHILLIPS (REP). . . . . 10,501 98.06
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 208 1.94
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 5,785

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

GUS COLVIN (DEM) . . . . . . . . 11,530 98.74
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 147 1.26
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 4,817

FOR CIRCUIT CLERK, CALHOUN COUNTY (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

TED HOOKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 11,931 98.94
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 128 1.06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 4,435

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY JUDGE OF PROBATE (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

ALICE MARTIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 9,294 58.37
GEORGE E. SALMON (REP) . . . . . . 6,615 41.54
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 14 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 571

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 1 (WITH 8 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 61.54%)

JAMES A. "PAPPY" DUNN (DEM) . . . . 2,399 99.30
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .70
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 425

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 2 (WITH 7 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 53.85%)

ROBERT W. DOWNING (DEM). . . . . . 2,218 64.93
JIMMY O'DELL (REP) . . . . . . . 1,196 35.01
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 2 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 143

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 3 (WITH 5 OF 11 PRECINCTS COUNTED 45.45%)

JAMES "ELI" HENDERSON (DEM) . . . . 2,106 97.14
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 62 2.86
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 796

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 4 (WITH 5 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 50%)

J. D. HESS (REP) . . . . . . . . 3,335 97.54
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 84 2.46
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,126

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 5 (WITH 5 OF 15 PRECINCTS COUNTED 33.33%)

RUDY ABBOTT (DEM). . . . . . . . 1,837 98.66
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 1.34
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 723

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY SHERIFF (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

LARRY D. AMERSON (DEM) . . . . . . 11,004 68.10
JASON "HOSS" CAMPBELL (REP) . . . . 5,137 31.79
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0 U
nder Votes . . . . . . . . . 335

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY CORONER (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

PATRICK BROWN (DEM) . . . . . . . 8,607 55.82
MARVIN SOUTHARD (REP) . . . . . . 6,795 44.07
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,076

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, PLACE NO. 1-7 VOTE FOR 7 (WITH 23 OF 45 PRECINCTS COUNTED 51.11%)

MIKE D. ALMAROAD (DEM) . . . . . . 5,290 8.71
SHIRLEY MCGINNIS CASH (DEM) . . . . 4,320 7.12
ED DENHAM (DEM) . . . . . . . . 2,882 4.75
FRANCES HIGGINBOTHAM (DEM). . . . . 3,899 6.42
HOWARD "MOUSE" WALDREP (DEM) . . . . 4,399 7.25
DAVID L. ZEIGLER (DEM) . . . . . . 2,883 4.75
JANET J. BRITTAIN (REP). . . . . . 4,743 7.81
JUNE EVANS (REP) . . . . . . . . 5,746 9.47
DAVID C. GILMORE (REP) . . . . . . 5,303 8.74
DALE HARBIN (REP). . . . . . . . 5,438 8.96
PHIL MURPHY (REP). . . . . . . . 4,918 8.10
LARRY STEWART (REP) . . . . . . . 4,991 8.22
TOM YOUNG (REP) . . . . . . . . 5,824 9.59
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 65 .11
WRTIE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 13,188

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (1) (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,762 45.62
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,676 54.38
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,056

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO (2) (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,428 58.72
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,222 41.28
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,844

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE (3) (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,828 58.34
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,162 41.66
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,504

Lengthy delays in Calhoun County

Calhoun County's Web site for vote totals says:

The Election Results will be posted as soon as we get the results. The Poles [sic] close at 7:00 PM. We should get this first ballots by 7:30 PM.

The county missed that marked by more than 90 minutes. Partial results should follow soon.

The delay was caused by confusion over how poll workers should handle provisional ballots and ballots with write-in candidates. Officials are now working to upload the results as soon as possible.

Holding down the fort in Midway

I have traveled to the end of the Earth (or at least Alabama) and back.

In pursuit of the State Senate Candidates from District 13, I turned down Alabama 431 and kept going... for a long time. An hour later I arrived in Midway. A crossroads of a town 10 miles north of Roanoke.

There, at the crossroads of AL 431 and Randolph County Rd. 333, stood a mute grey cinderblock building. It had a single halogen light above the door. No windows and a single door with a "vote here" poster taped to the outside.

I arrived around 3:00 and sat outside for a moments in the truck to take a picture. In the space of about three or four minutes, four cars pulled up. There was no circus of politicians campaigning outside - the rain and constant stream of voters had churned the parking area into dark mud.

But the people of Midway didn't seem to mind. I followed a middle-aged woman into the one room building. We were both greated with big smiles, she by name. The room was 15ft by 25ft and was warm and friendly.

Seven voters sat filling out ballots, five poll workers chatted at one of the back tables. They said that the tables had been full all day - the small building active.

As I was getting back into the truck, another two cars pulled up. Midway definately gets points for consistancy.

-Nick

For whom the Bell tolls

Just after 8 p.m., and the Sue Bell Cobb campaign is in a festive mood.

Calhoun County Sheriff's Office 8:15 p.m.

The first four boxes have trickled in with results in the county. Of the 1,898 ballots cast in those precincts, 532 voted a straight Democratic ticket to 148 straight Republican tickets. That means they probably won't provide an accurate picture of how we voted today.

Newspaper, radio and TV reporters are there waiting for deputies to bring in reports as they come in. The sheriff's department Web site is here, and of course we'll have complete coverage here.

Calhoun Results?

8 p.m.

Officials at the sheriff's office say there are questions about ballots at some polling place in Calhoun County. That means no results yet.

By now, a trickle of returns is available, and some races are finished, however, as it stands it's going to be a slow start.

Anxiety in Alexandria

Coroner Candidate Pat Brown's home in Alexandria - 8:15 p.m.

One hour after the polls have closed, there are four boxes in. From what I have heard from our folks at the Sheriff's Office there has been a little bit of trouble with some of the boxes.

Pat Brown and his supporters are gathered around the computer screens waiting for results. I think the refresh key may be tired already.

-Andy Johns

D's gain in Ohio, Pennsylvania

NBC News is projecting incumbent Republican senators - Mike DeWine of Ohio and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania - will lose to Democratic challengers.

Neither loss is all that much of a surprise. The real Senate races are in Virginia and Missouri.

UPDATE: CNN and NBC now project Democratic Senate candidate Ben Cardin as the winner in Maryland. Also, CNN is projecting Republican incumbent Sen. Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island as a loser to his Democratic challenger. That means the Democrats might have three of the six seats they need to take control of the Senate.

6:00 - Shell station, Lineville

Three people were in the Lineville gas station about an hour before polls closed. I asked the first one, "Did you vote?"

"I'm not registered," he said, although 18 had passed some years back. "I don't really care, and I don't think voting anyone in will change anything."

I asked the second one, "Did you vote?"

"Oh yes," he said.
"Democrat or Republican?"
"Mixed. People ask me how I vote and I tell them, 'my way.'" He thought about skipping this November 7 altogether because things got so negative. But then he decided to vote for the candidates that were the least ugly to the other guy - and that meant some Ds and some Rs.

I asked the third one, "Did you vote?"

"No time," he said.

Two young guys sat outside with windows rolled down in shiny, six cylinder, pick-ups. They played their tunes loud and yelled across to one another in conversation.
"Did you vote?" I yelled.
"Not registered," one answered.
"Not 18 yet?"
"Yeah, I'm 18, I just haven't got around to it," he said.
"People are dying so you can get around to it," I said. "Maybe you should find some time."

-Amanda

Did someone say party?

Um, from the Baxley campaign headquarters, where a muted ... celebration is getting under way, Brian Lyman reports that media attendance runs neck-and-neck with revelers. There's a cash bar, but not much going on right now.

However, it is only 7:30 p.m.

7:15 p.m.-Sheriff's Department, Ashland

Three ole-timey guitars, a stand-up base and four tables full of food make a party down here in Clay County as we wait with Sheriff "Jean-Dot" Alexander for the results to start rolling in from the county's polling stations. Dot can eat, but many of her supporters are too nervous to bite down on a piece of fried chicken.

-Amanda

And the vote rolls on

Brian, our intrepid Montgomery reporter, canvassed voters who were desperate to end negative ads:

Individual voters have individual reasons for voting. Calix Bilme a real estate agent votes on taxes. Mary Bohannon, an accountant, said education was important, "I have a lot of teachers in the family, and they've seen an improvement under Riley."

Hannah Jacobs, a kindergarten teacher, made the judiciary important.

But all could agree that the tone of this season's campaign was uniformly terrible.

"I think something needs to be done," Jacobs said. "If you want my support, say 'This is who I am, this is what I will do for the state of Alabama."

Jacobs and Bohannon say they want to see an end to the negative attacks.

6:30 p.m.- Mellow Valley

I barely pulled off a close dodge around an opossum, quickly followed by a rolling beer can, on a dark Alabama 49 going south toward Mellow Valley. The high school cafeteria was getting ready to close up shop. Out of 382 registered voters, only 234 came in today. Bud was there, the mail carrier, talking about the loads of mud-slinging political mail he had been obliged to deliver over the past month - more than ever, he said.

That got us talking about the state of elections, and the level of disgust was palpable. "People are sick of it," said Peggy, one of the poll workers. "Lots of folks just decide they aren't going to vote anymore." The poll workers, Bud, and a couple other voters in the cafeteria agreed that the political back talk is a big reason why voters are turned off, and turnout has been low this year. Voters are sick of hearing insults, sick of phone calls to the house right after the kids are finally in bed, and sick of pollers calling them with personal questions. "It's time for voters to stand up and call for a change by writing in candidates," Peggy said.

The worst part is, it's hard to understand what candidates stand for. Most of what you learn during campaign season, said one voter, is "nobody stands for nothing." But Bud disagreed: "They stand for a dollar if they can get one." Voters are having a hard time figuring out what "the issues" are or who is good for their county - because politicians are too busy insulting the other guy. The group said they don't know who to trust for information. So, they vote for incumbents if they have done something good, or they vote for the other guy if they haven't seen results. Mostly, they vote against people, not for them.

And you? Post your comments below, guys and gals! The election is over and machines are a-countin', but the state of our nation is not going away...the conversation continues.

-Amanda

A steady stream in Lincoln

The polling place in Lincoln is easy to spot. Look for all the campaign signs planted on the grass leading up to it, and a parking lot full of cars and fire trucks which had been pulled out of the garage to make room for the voting going on inside.

There was a line forming outside the polling place and with about an hour and half to go before the polls close, poll workers were expecting to see even more voters lined up as they got off of work.

Lincoln had seen "fabulous" turnout all day long, said inspector Anna Carmichael. "Everything has gone good," she said. 1,059 voters had cast their ballots by 5:30 p.m.

And more appeared to be showing up in a steady stream.

Waiting for results? O Brother

What do Star editors do to recharge their mental batteries during the campaign season? One way has been to keep a DVD of the Coen Brothers 2000 movie, O Brother, Where Art Thou? handy.

A running subplot concerns a political race in Mississippi. In one scene, the incumbent is discussing his failing fortunes with his aides while sitting on the front porch of the governor's mansion. It's decided that the challenger, who is employing a midget with a broom and is vowing to sweep out the corruption at the capitol, has superior tactics. At one point the two staffers discuss how their boss is gonna lose:

Pappy's Staffer 1: The reason he's pullin' our pants down.
Pappy's Staffer 2: Gonna paddle a little behind.
Pappy's Staffer 1: Ain't gonna paddle it - gonna kick it, real hard.
Pappy's Staffer 2: No, I believe he's gonna paddle it.
Pappy's Staffer 1: I don't believe that's a proper characterization.
Pappy's Staffer 2: Well, that's how I'd characterize it.
Pappy's Staffer 1: I believe it's more of a kickin' sitcheyation.

Priceless. It's a classic scene, guaranteed to raise a chuckle.

OK, what are some other favorite movies with political themes?

Almost done and no major problems in Calhoun Co.

Chief Deputy Matthew Wade said that with 45 minutes to go, there have been no major problems with the voting in Calhoun County.

Deputies received a few complaints of campaigners standing within the 30-foot bubble around the polling places. Upon investigation, all material was outside the zones.

"Thirty feet just isn't that far," Wade said.

-Andy Johns

Randolph County courthouse -- 6:18

Just waiting for the ballots to start rolling in for the official count here in Wedowee. It's not a long and difficult wait -- Sheriff Fuller's wife and others cook a ton of food for family and the deputies. If the anticipation of the wait doesn't make you antsy, the hot wings will.

Sheriff Fuller says he's nervous about the election. He's in his third term, and running for his fourth. But after 12 years as sheriff he still gets the jitters. "I can walk up to a man with a gun who wants to shoot me and be fine," he said. "But election time ..."

Making sure every vote gets counted

The Mabra Center on Martin Luther King Drive in Talladega, just blocks away from Talledega College, saw a steady stream of voters coming in and out this afternoon.

By 2 p.m. today about 700 people had cast their votes at the community center. Poll worker Marie Player said that was a good turnout so far for a mid-term election. She said that many of the voters tended to be older but she was optimistic that later in the day more younger voters, especially students at the college, would turn out. One Talledega College student who voted this afternoon stopped by to say hello to Marie, who greeted her with a big hug and a congratulations for voting.

Marie also noted that Talledega is home to two other schools, the Alabama School for the Blind and the Alabama School for the Deaf. There had been several voters who are blind who had already cast their ballots, she said, and pointed out with pride the machine which offered accessible voting. That's part of the job of a poll worker, she said, to make sure that all people who are eligible to vote have access to their right and assistance if need be.

Many voters trickled in during my visit with Marie. All the poll workers were pleasant and happy to help folks who had questions. Many of the voters seemed to know eachother and the poll workers, so this polling place also took on a social atmosphere. That's part of the joy of working an election, Marie said. The poll workers have a family atmosphere filled with teamwork, she said, and "we have fun doing it." Besides, "People are nice and we all work well together," she said. "It takes a lot of people to run the polls," she said, pointing out the line of volunteers busily handing out ballots to voters. "They're all good workers, dedicated, enthusiastic....We enjoy eachother and what we're doing."

Marie retired as a cooperative extension service county agent supervisor after 34 years on the job. She's just a people person and helping out at the polls is part of that, she said. She is ready with a smile to answer any questions the voters may have, and she cheerfully takes time to explain to a reporter how the ballot counting machines work and what the process is if a ballot can't be read by the machine. If a machine does not read the ballot, then the voter fills out another one and a team of election workers will try to figure out why it wouldn't be accepted. For example one voter filled out his ballot with a regular pen this morning instead of the special felt pens supplied at the polls. It took a bit of thinking but eventually the poll workers realized that was why the ballot couldn't go through the machine. Care and attention like that are essential to making sure an eleciton goes smoothly and every vote is counted, said Marie.

Christmas comes earlier . . . and earlier . . . and earlier

Are you one of the dozens of Americans who will miss this year's negative attack ads? Take comfort -- the presidential campaign is only two years away.

Here's a sample of some of the e-mail we get here, and how little is known until, you know, the votes come in. BetUS, an on-line gambling site, says it's handicapping the 2008 race. Now, remember that two years ago:
1) The Republicans looked invincible;
2) Bob Riley looked doomed;
3) Britney Spears was happily married.

The site gives Hillary Clinton 5/4 odds to be president; John McCain 3/1 and Al Gore 8/1. But it also gives former Virginia governor Mark Warner a 7/1 to one chance to be president and a three-to-one chance to be the Democratic nominee, which a) gives him a better chance to be the nominee than the bettors' favorite to be president and b) ignores the fact that Mark Warner has said he will not run in 2008.

In other words, no one knows anything.

A Missouri plan for Alabama?

For those confused by who to vote for in judicial races and those tired of the seemingly endless TV commercials selling this judge over that one, the editorial page in tomorrow's Star may be of use.

An editorial in the Wednesday paper reports on a different way to put judges on statewide courts.

The so-called Missouri Plan, which is used in the Show-Me State as well as 11 others, avoids partisanship in selecting state judges. The editorial lays out the plan in full detail. For the curious who can't wait, you might try here or here.

Nationally, corruption in Congress is top of mind

CNN is releasing the results of issue-oriented exit polls. Nationally, the deciding factor for voters in congressional elections was corruption. Forty-two percent of those polled said "corruption in Washington" was "extremely important."

Cherokee County 5 p.m.

Joan Garrett reports a few sticky machines in Cherokee County.

Saks High School 5:05 p.m.

Seven countywide candidates chose to visit Calhoun's largest polling place - Saks High School - to stump for some final votes in the final couple of hours of Election Day.

In the 2004 general election the site had more than 3,000 voters. So far today it's seen almost 1,700. A dozen or so people were waiting to sign in, and voters had moved to the high school gym's perimeter to find space to fill out their ballots.

Beginning at 7 tonight, results will begin to come in at the sheriff's office. Some of the candidates will be there themselves or send family members to monitor the tallies. Others - like Tom Young, who said he's had four hours of sleep total the past two days - may stop home to shower and squeeze in a quick nap before hearing the results.

Brian Lyman, on the air

Butler Cain, news director for Alabama Public Radio, tells me that The Star's very own Brian Lyman will be featured tonight during APR's post-election coverage. Click here to listen to APR live online.

Dedicated Alabama Public TV viewers of For the Record may recognize Brian as a frequent guest on Friday nights.

Discontent from Lineville - 5:00 p.m.

Amanda DeWald phoned this in from Lineville in Clay County. Click the > symbol in the box to play.

Boxing match

Bill Edwards, who compiles The Star's "On This Day in History" section (sorry, Star subscribers only), notes that democracy didn't come easy 75 years ago.

An item from the Sep. 17, 1931 edition of The Star notes that all of the state's metal election boxes were in the hands of a Senate committee in Washington, being inspected as part of a disputed election. When the state needed to hold an election Nov. 3 for a road bond issue, officials had to construct a whole new set of boxes. And when we say boxes, we mean six-sided wooden cubes with a slot at the top. Then, for a Nov. 10 election, the state had to construct another complete set of boxes for a vote on a state inheritance tax. That meant someone in Calhoun County had to hammer together 84 boxes in a hurray for the 42 local polling places.

My personal relationship with Democracy

Here's a lesson in being a responsible voter: when you move more than 20 minutes away from your old stomping grounds, don't forget to update your info with the Board of Registrars. I moved from Alexandria to East Anniston but neglected to change my polling place. Doh. So after a quick meeting at the Joint Powers Authority, I picked up my girlfriend from our house and made the trek to the Civitan Club next to the volunteer fire station.

Nothing too special about voting, other than I find the ballots a bit confusing, connecting the arrow to the candidate. Public education has made me dependent on bubbling in the circles. How sad.

The JPA meeting was interesting. One of the candidates running today, District 2 commissioner Robert Downing, serves on the JPA board. I figured he'd be out stumping for a few more votes, but he was at the table talking about the Lowe's project at McClellan.

The JPA has been an issue for Downing and other politicians serving on the board. Downing's opponent, Jimmy O'Dell, says politicians should not serve on the board at all. Downing says having a board made up of politicians provides accountability for its actions.

That's a debate that will extend well beyond this campaign season, however.

Glenwood Meadows in double coverage

Just stopped by Glenwood Meadows on my way into The Star. The folks there told me our Joan Garrett had just left. Nothing wrong with hitting them up twice.

Polling clerk George Areno, who also is a Jacksonville City Councilman, had just finished helping a voter fill out a new ballot after her original one was rejected by the voting machine. He showed me her "spoiled" ballot before stuffing it into an envelope with 15 others that had errors. The woman had made a stray mark with her pen in the upper right hand corner of her ballot. The mark was only the size of two grains of rice, but it was enough to throw the machine for a loop.

The machine spits out a long receipt-like tape with details of all errors made during the course of the day. That, plus all the spoiled ballots will be returned the sheriff's office to make sure everything's accounted for, according to Tracey Beavers, the polling inspector there.

Donoho precinct wide open

Don't worry about waiting in line at The Donoho School. At 1:30, there were
only five people filling out ballots, three of them being my dad, stepmom and me.
The other two were a mother-and-son team who also came together.
Contrary to the popular trend, I was not the youngest person voting - at
least by a few months.
Since there was no line, everything went smoothly. Just don't be too alarmed
if the bell goes off when it's time for the students to change classes.

Angela Reid, Copy Desk

Ohio, South Carolina politicians having polling problems

This site links to reports of at least three politicians - two members of Congress from Ohio and South Carolina's governor - having problems casting their votes today.

3 o'clock, and all's well in Ranburne

Dierdre reports that about 360 people have voted so far in Ranburne, with about 200 more expected by the time polls close at 7 p.m. That's many more than they had in the primary. She got there just in time for the after-school rush.

It's pretty neat in Ranburne -- it's the only polling place, and everybody knows everybody. She met a first-time voter who looked very proud as she put her ballot into the machine.

She also ran into an attorney for the Republicans who was checking on polling.

Two floors

The first floor of the Alabama Department of Archives and History: A glass display case, filled with campaign paraphernalia from fifty years of Alabama electoral contests. There's a pamphlet for former governor John Patterson ("proven defender of our rights"). On one poster, "Big" Jim Folsom says a "new Alabama constitution is the answer." Former governor George Wallace could have a whole case to himself: buttons, magazine articles, pins, even a "souvenir album," showing Wallace and his wife Lurleen in front of a Confederate flag nearly overwhelm the other candidates.

It's colorful and eye-catching. It gives you a peek into what was flooding people's mailboxes 32, 36 and 40 years ago. They were probably x in a set of 20,000, the other 19,999 versions sent to a landfill a long time ago. The survivors seem curiously out of their time. Rarely do the items address the issues facing Alabamians, or allude to the struggles tearing them apart. They use simple slogans and simple assertions, blind, it seems, to the world outside.

In short, it's detritus, filled with attacks, simple thinking and deliberate avoidance of what's important. It's what we've seen in our mailboxes and on our televisions these last three months. It's what we hate about politics.

Then there's the second floor.

A group of people, dressed in attire appropriate for church, walk two-by-two down a road, protesting the shooting death of a man trying to protect his mother and grandfather. They are met at a bridge by armed employees of the state, who attack them with clubs and whips. And fire tear gas at them. All for their protest.

Forget, for a moment, what happened in the weeks following that confrontation. At the moment of the attack, the victims -- doing nothing more than registering their outrage at the conduct of the government -- had no recourse and no voice in the political process. State leaders did not depend on their vote and had no reason to listen to them. Those who would willingly and cheerfully do them physical harm had no need to fear prosecution by officials. A long and shameful history of prejudice and discrimination had robbed them of the vote -- and with it, the right to punish leaders who refused them government's most simple service of protection.

It has been said before, but the ballot does not, in itself, bring economic opportunity or freedom. It does not educate or uplift. All it does is protect people from coercion by their leaders, by giving them the chance to change leaders who would go against their will or their physical well-being. It makes them stockholders in the great enterprise of a government. And it requires others to respect them.

The first floor is what we hate. The second is why we must.

Ohatchee fire station 2:55 p.m.

Most voters today will be fairly unobtrusive in the area's churches, schools and community centers that serve as polling places. But in Ohatchee, voters stream in and out of the fire station. Wayne Williams, a volunteer Ohatchee firefighter, said usually he remembers to put some cones in front of the building where the trucks exit in emergencies. He forgot today, and when he came in about four cars were parked out front.

"I know with the weather folks don't want to walk too far," he said. "We try to do what we can, but we have to keep it clear."

The trucks didn't need to make a run for it during the momentary blockage.

Otherwise, it looks like the weather might be clearing up. Driving back from Ohatchee to the Star newsroom I could see a double rainbow as the sun made an appearance this afternoon.

Newspapers following national voting problems

The Web site for Editor & Publisher, a media trade magazine, reports newspapers across the country are online and active, a la The Pulse. What those papers are finding are problems on this Election Day. Here's what E&P says:

As voters go to the polls to cast ballots in what may be the most significant mid-year elections in a dozen years, new concerns about the use of electronic voting machines and uncertainty over the experience of poll workers have made the focus on potential problems, and delays, more relevant than ever.
USA Today appeared to lead the newspaper reporting on the Web today about Election Day problems, with its lead story headlined, "Voting machine problems bedevil multiple states." The lengthy piece revealed information on poll worker confusion with electronic voting in Illinois, computer errors delaying votes in Indiana -- and prompting a court order to extend voting -- and non-functioning machines in Ohio.
Associated Press had several reports focused on voting problems, including one posted by mid-morning headlined "New Rules, Machines Frazzle Poll Workers." ...
By late morning, The New York Times, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times had few original Web stories on voting problems. The New York Times posted a version of the AP Web story, along with a blog item on Chelsea Clinton initially being denied a chance to vote in Manhattan because her name was not on the rolls. She did reportedly cast an affidavit ballot. The Post's main election day primer referred to some newspapers Web reports in other states, as well as the AP coverage of problems.

Cash and Casserole - Jacksonville Glenwood Meadows, 2:57 pm

Twenty-four year old Nena Bell was the lone campaigner at the Glenwood Meadows Community Center - a guy named Bug was there to keep her company. She was handing out sample ballots titled, "Ray's Political Enterprise." An arrow was drawn on the ballot directing people to vote for Democratic candidates Baxley, Folsom, Tyson, Cobb, Johnson, England, McFerrin, Clarke, and Parker in the state races. The ballot also endorsed Democratic candidate Larry D. Amerson for Calhoun County Sheriff.
Bell said her uncle runs Ray's Political Enterprise, which pays individuals, like herself, to hand out promotional material from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day.
"The candidates pay my uncle and he pays us," she said.
She gets $100 for the day and a free lunch from anywhere she wants.
When I went inside the Community Center I found out that 450 people had voted, a high number compared to years past, according to Tracey Beavers, a polling officials.
The polling officials seemed to be having a good time. They were laughing, and said they were glad to be there. It was a much needed break from their kids and jobs, Beavers said.
Polling officials get paid $125 a day. A polling inspector gets paid $175 a day. The pay isn't too shabby, and the food is great. They went pot luck this year - hamburger casserole, meat and cheese, sandwiches, cake.

Not even a mouse

The carpet of the state Senate chamber is vaccuumed clean; the desks are swept of the papers some members will leave on top of them. It's been quiet since the Legislature adjourned last April; a few candidates, including Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley, have used the chamber for televison advertisements.

But otherwise, the whole chamber is silent. Mike Murphy, the public information officer, said today won't be the busy day for them. Tomorrow -- with newly elected senators coming down and taking their measurement of the chamber -- things will begin to heat up. The office will create temporary nameplates for the senators; office will change once the leadership is figured out.

Those are business matters.

"I think like everyone else, I'll be glad when tomorrow is here," he said, lamenting "the tone of these ads."

Finally my turn - Anniston Henry Road 2:30

About 55 miles later, it's finally my turn to vote. Sticking with the theme of the morning, I was the youngest person in the room by a long shot at Anniston's First Presbyterian Church on Henry Road when I casted my vote today. I was voter number 343.

I was handed a "sample ballot" out on the front porch from the New Alabama Voters League. The sample had candidates circled already, presumably for the candidates that the league supported. The groups endorsed a straight Democratic ticket except for coroner, where they sided with the Republican.

The sample ballot also offered free rides to the polling places. I wonder if they ask who you will vote for before they come get you? Has anyone ever tried that?

UA Students Vote Today, Some for First Time

TUSCALOOSA-- You may not realize that for some Alabamians, today is special because it is one of their first opportunies to exercise their right to vote.

Andrea Murrell lives a stone's throw from the Jacksonville State University campus, but she's studying in the College of Communication and Information Sciences here at the University of Alabama. While she's from Jacksonville, Andrea is registered to vote here in Tuscaloosa County.

She was planning to head to the polls here right after her 2 p.m. class.

In this class of 28 students, four students raised their hands when I asked how many of them had voted or were planning to vote in today's midterm elections. We recognized these four students today and had them take their picture.


Along with Murrell (far left), Kendra Lawson from Mobile, Rachel Confield from Birmingham and Whitney Du Plessis from Fairfax, Va. were among those Crimson Tide faithful casting ballots today.

It's interesting to note they were all female. Wonder if this is the case across the country? Will women play a big role in this election?

I'd like to see what some of our readers think about that.

"I'll keep doing it as long as I can" - Munford 2:15 p.m.

Eighty-nine-year-old Belle Swinford (she'll be 90 in February) has been a poll worker for more than 34 years-she can't remember exactly when she started working on election days, but she knows it was "since before 1974." And if she has her way, she will keep doing it for many more years to come.

"I'm a permanent fixture," she says and notes that "it's a lot of fun." She loves it, she says, and she has only missed one election in all those years, when she broke her hip last year. The best part about election day is "seeing the folks you don't see often," she says.

Belle is manning the post by the ballot counting machine on this rainy election day in Munford. The polling place is a garage next to the water district that houses apparatus for the volunteer fire department. By 12 noon, Belle had already put 420 ballots through the machine, "a pretty good turnout," she remarks.

More voters will probably show up this afternoon she notes, especially when the Honda plant has its shift change. But so far, "they've been coming in steady. The rain didn't slow them down," she says.

Voters kept up a steady trickle while I was there.

In about a half an hour the total had climbed to 435 people who had marked their ballots and run them through the machine.

After each person votes Belle gives them an "I voted today" sticker with a great big smile to go with it. Most of the voters seem to know Belle well. They greet her with hugs, smiles, and easy familiartiy. Her great-grandaughter stops by to offer a hug on her way out. Election day is still a grand social occasion in Munford, it seems, an opportunity to visit with folks you haven't seen in a while, to chit chat and catch up on news, as well as exercise the right to vote.

"I've always enjoyed it," Belle says of election day. "I always have. I'll keep doing it as long as I can."