COUNTY GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
COUNTY OFFICIALS
Probate Judge
Tax Assessor
Tax Collector
Sheriff
Coroner
County Commissioners – 3
Circuit Judge
District Judge
District Attorney
Circuit Clerk
State Board of Education* – 2
*Superintendent is appointed by
the State Board
CANDIDATE QUALIFYING
Candidates for elected positions on the county and state level must qualify within their parties on Monday. Qualifying of candidates shall be handled by the Credentials Committee of each respective party. Qualifying fees, not to exceed $1.00, will be determined by party action.
Primary Elections
General Elections
In the event of a tie in any election, the winner will be determined by a flip of the coin, as is the case with the State of Alabama.
SUMMARY OF SPEECHES AND APPEARANCES
Candidates for County Offices:
Speak for one minute before your Party and, if victorious in party elections, one minute before General Election within your country.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The county, like a city, is a creation of boundaries and provides for the authority of its governing body. Counties are regarded by the state as units of local government. A major function of county commissions is county road administration. Other functions performed on the county level are county revenue collection and disbursement, education through county school system, public health, public welfare, county law enforcement, and the judicial functions.
Alabama is divided into 67 counties. Although the affairs of a county may be administered by local officers, each county’s government is part of the state government and rules for it are written by the state Legislature and are administered by those elected to office. The courthouse in the county seat serves as the center of country government.
In general, county governments operate on a uniform basis.
County officials include the following:
The Judge of Probate is the highest is the highest administrative officer in the county. This official may be Chairman of the County Commission and Judge of the Probate Court. In some counties the commission chairman may be a person other than the probate judge. Judge of the Probate Court hears and rules on cases relating to wills, administration of estates, guardianships of minors, and adoptions. The judge is charged with the duties of recording all deeds and mortgages and all other papers filed for public record in the county. It is the judge’s duty to inspect county property and to perform various duties connected to elections, such as keeping a list of county voters, issuing supplies to election officials, etc. The Judge of Probate also issues all privilege licenses, motor vehicle licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, and marriage licenses except in those counties, which have special officers for this purpose.
The Sheriff acts as the principal law enforcement officer of the county, and under the Constitution, is a member of the state executive department. In general, the Sheriff preserves order in the county and enforces the law, and has charge of the county jail inmates, and performs many other duties pertaining to law enforcement.
The Tax Collector collects all property taxes levied by either the state or county and remits all money due to the state to the state Comptroller and remits all money due to the county to the County Treasurer.
The Tax Assessor lists property values for purposes of taxation and keeps the record of all property in the county, the names of the owners, and the value of the property. The assessor’s work is checked by the Board of Equalization. The Assessor acts as secretary for the Board, which is composed of three members appointed by the Commissioner or Revenue.
The Coroner investigates all violent deaths and, in case there is suspicion if the existence of crime, may summon a jury to help him, upon authority of a judge. The coroner fills the office of the Sheriff when the office is vacant or the Sheriff is disqualified to act.
Circuit and District Judges are state officials, but are elected locally from judicial districts designated by legislative acts and serve within those districts. Judicial circuits are comprised of one to five counties. Judges must be licensed to practice law in Alabama, live within the judicial district, and are elected to six-year terms. The district of a District Judge is a single county.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps records of the circuit and district court, issues summons and other writs in the name of the court, keeps a docket of cases to come before the court, and is responsible for collecting and disbursing court-ordered monies. The clerk works with the Judge of Probate and Sheriff in appointing election officials in certain elections.
The County Commission is the governing body in each county. The commission has three to seven members who are elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. Frequently the probate judge is an ex-officio member of the commission and also chairs the commission in many counties.
COUNTY OFFICIALS
Probate Judge
Tax Assessor
Tax Collector
Sheriff
Coroner
County Commissioners – 3
Circuit Judge
District Judge
District Attorney
Circuit Clerk
State Board of Education* – 2
*Superintendent is appointed by
the State Board
CANDIDATE QUALIFYING
Candidates for elected positions on the county and state level must qualify within their parties on Monday. Qualifying of candidates shall be handled by the Credentials Committee of each respective party. Qualifying fees, not to exceed $1.00, will be determined by party action.
- Persons desiring to seek County Offices must qualify to run with the Credentials Committee of their party at the designated time.
- Each candidate will give her name, office she is seeking, and pay her qualifying fee.
Primary Elections
- Delegates will cast their votes in the Party Primaries electronically by city. Both county and state officials will appear on each party’s ballot.
- Counselors will handle the voting process.
- All delegates must vote during the Primary Election. The delegate must vote within her own party (selecting the best person who could be the winner against the nominee from the other party) for each position on the ballot.
- Run-offs may be required in races where no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes. If run-offs are required, delegates will vote by paper ballot.
General Elections
- Delegates will vote by city to cast their votes in the General Election.
- Voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation. You may choose to vote the straight party ticket or you may vote a “split” ticket vote and choose candidates from both parties.
In the event of a tie in any election, the winner will be determined by a flip of the coin, as is the case with the State of Alabama.
SUMMARY OF SPEECHES AND APPEARANCES
Candidates for County Offices:
Speak for one minute before your Party and, if victorious in party elections, one minute before General Election within your country.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The county, like a city, is a creation of boundaries and provides for the authority of its governing body. Counties are regarded by the state as units of local government. A major function of county commissions is county road administration. Other functions performed on the county level are county revenue collection and disbursement, education through county school system, public health, public welfare, county law enforcement, and the judicial functions.
Alabama is divided into 67 counties. Although the affairs of a county may be administered by local officers, each county’s government is part of the state government and rules for it are written by the state Legislature and are administered by those elected to office. The courthouse in the county seat serves as the center of country government.
In general, county governments operate on a uniform basis.
County officials include the following:
The Judge of Probate is the highest is the highest administrative officer in the county. This official may be Chairman of the County Commission and Judge of the Probate Court. In some counties the commission chairman may be a person other than the probate judge. Judge of the Probate Court hears and rules on cases relating to wills, administration of estates, guardianships of minors, and adoptions. The judge is charged with the duties of recording all deeds and mortgages and all other papers filed for public record in the county. It is the judge’s duty to inspect county property and to perform various duties connected to elections, such as keeping a list of county voters, issuing supplies to election officials, etc. The Judge of Probate also issues all privilege licenses, motor vehicle licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, and marriage licenses except in those counties, which have special officers for this purpose.
The Sheriff acts as the principal law enforcement officer of the county, and under the Constitution, is a member of the state executive department. In general, the Sheriff preserves order in the county and enforces the law, and has charge of the county jail inmates, and performs many other duties pertaining to law enforcement.
The Tax Collector collects all property taxes levied by either the state or county and remits all money due to the state to the state Comptroller and remits all money due to the county to the County Treasurer.
The Tax Assessor lists property values for purposes of taxation and keeps the record of all property in the county, the names of the owners, and the value of the property. The assessor’s work is checked by the Board of Equalization. The Assessor acts as secretary for the Board, which is composed of three members appointed by the Commissioner or Revenue.
The Coroner investigates all violent deaths and, in case there is suspicion if the existence of crime, may summon a jury to help him, upon authority of a judge. The coroner fills the office of the Sheriff when the office is vacant or the Sheriff is disqualified to act.
Circuit and District Judges are state officials, but are elected locally from judicial districts designated by legislative acts and serve within those districts. Judicial circuits are comprised of one to five counties. Judges must be licensed to practice law in Alabama, live within the judicial district, and are elected to six-year terms. The district of a District Judge is a single county.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps records of the circuit and district court, issues summons and other writs in the name of the court, keeps a docket of cases to come before the court, and is responsible for collecting and disbursing court-ordered monies. The clerk works with the Judge of Probate and Sheriff in appointing election officials in certain elections.
The County Commission is the governing body in each county. The commission has three to seven members who are elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. Frequently the probate judge is an ex-officio member of the commission and also chairs the commission in many counties.