As the 2020 election cycle grows closer and closer we've been asked about several important dates involving everything from absentee ballots and voter registration to how someone enters the November General Election as an independent candidate separate from the Republican or Democratic Party.
Right now there will be no local elections on Escambia County, Alabama's March 3 primary ballots. Right now there will be no contested local elections on the November General Election ballot.
First off, we found out that Feb. 14 is the last day to register to vote in the March 3 primaries. Registration can be done at the courthouse in Brewton or the annex in Atmore. People who have changed addresses since the last election also need to update their voter registration by this date.
Although there will not be any independent candidates on the primary ballots, anyone wishing to run as an independent in the November General Election must do so by 5 p.m. March 3.
Requirements are that to have your name listed on the ballot, you must get a petition signed by at least 3 percent of the registered voters in the district or area who are wanting to be a candidate.
To run statewide that number is 51,588, according to the secretary of state's office. If you are running county-wide, you need 3 percent of the voters in Escambia County. If you want to be an independent candidate for school board or county commission, you will need a petition signed by at least 3 percent of the registered voters in those respective districts.
Let's say you want to run for school board or county commission in Escambia County, you need to contact the probate judge's office, which will in turn contact the board of registrars to tell you how many signatures you need.
Also note that those signatures will be verified to make sure they are registered voters in that district. So, if you need 300 you better get 400 because some will get scratched.
