By Paul DeMarco

With summer unofficially over this week and Labor Day soon upon us, election season is just beginning in earnest. The November election is right around the corner, which means candidates are about to spend all their campaign funds to get voters to the polls. And with over 3.8 million voters in Alabama, there’s a lot to do in the coming weeks. With the election taking place on November 5, these candidates have just over eight weeks to convince voters that they’re the right person for the job or that they’ve earned the right to be re-elected to their current office.

Paul DeMarco

There will be many local, state, and in some areas federal elections in Alabama’s 67 counties. Of course, it’s a foregone conclusion that Donald Trump will win Alabama’s nine electoral votes, just as he did in the last two presidential elections in 2016 and 2020. Even though the former president has secured the presidential election, there will be a long ballot to weigh on Election Day. As such, some voters may feel it’s not worth taking the time to vote, but Alabama residents still have important elections ahead of them that they must consider and decide on as well.

And while there will be no officials in Alabama’s executive or legislative branches to vote on at the ballot box, many local judges, county clerks, and other county leadership positions will be elected. In fact, some of the most important elections we vote on are the local officials who administer and make decisions in the judicial branch. With the rise in violent crime, now more than ever we need a judiciary that ensures public safety is an integral part of their job when handling cases involving individuals charged with violent crimes. Whether it’s setting bail or deciding the sentence for someone convicted of breaking the law, we need good men and women who can serve as judges and dispense justice. So it’s up to voters to do their homework and select qualified judges to serve on the bench.

So get ready for the mail, billboards, radio and television ads from candidates seeking votes in the final sprint to Election Day to cross the finish line on November 5th.