Local races add pop to primaries

Published 12:30 am Tuesday, March 13, 2012

While the rest of the country is focused on Alabama for the battle in the Republican Primary race for President, local voters will be more focused on local races that — in most cases — is the election.

Tuesday marks party primaries in Alabama. Locally, voters will cast ballots on either the Republican or Democratic ballots, with the Democratic ballot containing a number of key — and final — elections.

On the Democratic ballot, the races for Circuit Court Judge Place 1, Dallas County Probate Judge and Dallas County Commission Place 3 will appear, with each being the final election, since there is no race — or competition — on the Republican side of the ballot.

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The lone race of local interest on the Republican ballot is the primary for the 7th Congressional District. In that race, Phil Norris and Don Chamberlain are fighting for the chance to take on incumbent, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) in November.

Polling places will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Officials from the Dallas County Board of Registrars said voters must bring any form of ID that’s shown on a voter roster at each of the 29 polling places.

“There are 24-30 items, about a foot-long list, that will identify them (voters) to the poll worker, (items ranging) from current bank statement, power bill, driver’s license et cetera,” Dallas County Board of Registrars chairman Frank Driskell said.

Driskell said if voters cannot be identified from items on the list, they can still vote.

“Two poll workers must know the person as who they say they are and write their names next to the voter (on list),” Driskell said.

Driskell also said anyone can vote a provisional ballot but it’s up to the Board of Registrars to determine if the ballot is eligible.

Dallas County polling locations include: Dallas County Courthouse, 105 Lauderdale St., East End Fire Department, 2401 Selma Ave., Carver Neighborhood Center, 207 Martin Luther King St., Selma Mall, 1391 Highland Ave., Woodrow Ave. Fire Station, 1104 Woodrow Ave., Rangedale Center, 1 Twilley Ave., New St. John Baptist Church, 1717 Plant St., Broad Street Fire Station, 1500 Broad St., Memorial Stadium, 104 W. Dallas Ave., Old National Guard Armory, 2401 W. Dallas Ave., Cahaba Road Fire Station, 800 Cahaba Road., The Christian Outreach Alliance, 700 J.L. Chestnut Blvd., Queen of Peace, 2511 Summerfield Road, Plantersville Volunteer Fire Department, 111 Oak St., Summerfield Volunteer Fire Department, 106 Main St., Valley Grande Community Center, 280 Dallas Road, Orrville Community Center, 463 Academy St., Beloit Community Center, 8010 Alabama Hwy. 22W, Tipton School, 2500 Tipton St., Selmont Water Works, 2504 Old Montgomery Hwy., Tyler Community Center, 2301 Dallas Road 7, Good Hope Church, 84 County Road 428, Mt. Zion Church, 306 Selfield Road, Union Old National Guard Armory, 2401 W. Dallas Ave., Union New National Guard Armory, 3443 U.S. Hwy. 80 W, Safford Community Center, 125 Dallas Road 15, Marion Junction/Black Belt Experimental Station, 60 County Road 944, Shiloh School, 2600 Dallas County Rd. 30, Carlowville/Minter Volunteer Fire Department, 102 Dallas County Road 4.

To contact the Dallas County Board of Registrars, call 874-2534.