Most Alabama voters stay away from polls in crowded Senate primary

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Voters in Prattville on Tuesday morning talked about building walls, Christian values, and about needing a change in government as they went to the polls to select Democratic and Republican nominees for Alabama’s junior U.S. Senate seat.
Kym Klass / Montgomery Advertiser

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Fewer than 1 in 7 and perhaps as little as 1 in 10 registered voters were expected to cast their ballots Tuesday in Alabama’s primary to determine who would vie in December for Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ old Senate seat.

After a morning of lackluster turnout at the state’s polling places, the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office revised its predictions downward from original estimates of 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 voters at the polls.

“Apparently, this is a case where people are not enthusiastic about the candidates,” Secretary of State John Merrill said.

Alabama voters, who haven’t selected a Democrat for a U.S. Senate seat since 1992, have nine Republicans to choose from. Seven others are competing to become the Democratic nominee.

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Alabama doesn’t register voters by party, so a voter can choose either primary.

If none of the candidates wins a majority in each party’s primary, state law sends the top two vote-getters to a primary runoff Sept. 26. And political analysts consider that highly likely in at least the GOP race; the special election for the Senate seat is Dec. 12.

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“I’m not really a big fan for any of the candidates that were running today. But since President Trump officially endorsed Luther Strange and Luther Strange has publicly said he would back Trump’s agenda, that’s the reason I voted for Luther Strange,” Walt Haywood said after walking out of the Doster Memorial Community Center in Prattville, Ala., about 10 miles northwest of Montgomery.

James Pollock, a retiree who lives in Montgomery, said Trump’s endorsement and that of the National Rifle Association helped him vote for Strange. 

“Trump likes Strange for some reason,” he said. “I voted for Trump. I didn’t want to upset the apple cart.”

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Moore’s supporters said they thought he was the most honest candidate in the race or the one who aligned with their religious beliefs.

“Christian values are very important to me,” Roger Carter of Prattville said. “But he’s also conservative in some of the ways that our president is, and that means a lot to me.”

Democrats who came out to vote were critical of Donald Trump and recent corruption scandals that engulfed Alabama. Health care was also on many people’s minds.

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Zelda Kitt, an educator from the college town of Auburn, Ala., about 50 miles from Montgomery, voted for former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones. She said she liked his views on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

“I do hope Democrats have a chance to make a splash,” said Kelly Kennington, a history professor at Auburn University who voted for environmentalist and progressive candidate Michael Hansen. “I’m not naïve. I don’t necessarily think they’ll win (the general election). But I hope so.” 

Follow Kym Klass and Brian Lyman on Twitter: @kymklass and @lyman_brian

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