Alabama: Birmingham's slow preclearance request for election-date change has potential candidates and council worried
The Birmingham News reports: The city last week filed its formal request with federal officials to move up the City Council and school board elections - more than two months after the City Council voted for the change. ...
However, the delay in filing the request has some asking when the actual election will be held, when qualifying will open and when the real campaign season will begin.
Council and school board elections were set for Oct. 13, but the council in February voted to move the elections to Aug. 25. Cooper had said the change was needed because of provisions in the federal Help America to Vote Act that requires six weeks between the election and any runoffs. That provision was mandated to allow absentee and overseas ballots to be counted.
Under Birmingham's schedule, there have been only three weeks between the general election and runoffs. -- Birmingham, Alabama, files request with U.S. to shift election date months after council voted for change - al.com