Voters are heading to the polls today, Sept. 13, to cast their ballots for one of the four men running in the House District 79 Republican primary.
Jay Conner, Joe Lovvorn, Brett Smith and Sandy Toomer have been competing in the primary since they announced their candidacies in late June. Today, voters will decide who shall replace former House Speaker Mike Hubbard.
Five of eight voting precincts are located in Auburn city limits, including one at the Clarion Inn on South College Street, one at the Boykin Community Center on Boykin Street, one at the National Guard Armory on Shug Jordan Parkway, one at the Dean Road Recreation Center and one at the Frank Brown Recreation Center on Opelika Road.
Polling booths opened this morning at 7 a.m. and will close this evening at 7 p.m.
To find out your voter registration status, visit the Alabama Secretary of State website.
The remaining three voting locations are in Opelika and Beauregard, Alabama.
Ms. Alice Smith, an engineering professor at Auburn, on why she voted today. #alpolitics #district79 pic.twitter.com/TZwDk8CHAC
— Chip Brownlee (@chpbrownlee) September 13, 2016
Today's special election is the first time since 1998 that voters will be able to vote in a Republican Primary without Hubbard's name being included on the ballot.
Gov. Robert Bentley announced the special election to replace Hubbard after the former speaker and Auburn Republican was found guilty of 12 felony ethics charges. Hubbard was immediately removed from his House seat after becoming a convicted felon.
If none of the candidates receive more than 50 percent of the votes cast today, a runoff between the top two candidates will be scheduled for Nov. 29. If no runoff is necessary, the general election will be held Nov. 29.
If a runoff is necessary, the general election will be moved to February 2017.
Check out The Plainsman's comprehensive coverage of the House District 79 election
- Read a profile on House candidate Jay Conner
- Read a profile on House candidate Brett Smith
- Read a profile on House candidate Sandy Toomer
- Read a profile on House candidate Gage Fenwick
- Read a profile on House candidate Joe Lovvorn
- Candidates talk issues, trust in forum
- Lovvorn refunds $10,000 donation
- House candidate: 'We should concentrate on making our state better' not fighting the federal government
- Fourth Republican announces candidacy for House seat
- Third candidate announces plans to run for Auburn's House seat
- Two hopefuls announce plans to run for Hubbard's vacant seat
- Election announced to replace Hubbard
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