AL HB144

Eliminates the requirement for a second or runoff election in municipal elections when only two candidates run for a single office and receive a tie vote.

Establishes that tie votes in municipal runoff elections shall be decided by the municipal governing body no later than 12:00 noon on the first Tuesday following the runoff, with a circuit court judge replacing any disqualified judge of probate.

If the municipal governing body fails to break a tie in a runoff election, the judge of probate of the county shall decide the election by lot no later than 5:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday following the runoff, in the presence of candidates and electors.

For county and precinct office elections, establishes that tie votes between the two highest candidates shall be decided by lot by the judge of probate of the county in the presence of candidates.

Disqualifies any judge of probate who is a candidate in the tied race or openly participated in promoting candidates from deciding the tie; the presiding circuit court judge shall replace them.