A voter’s guide to the House District 11 special primary election

Republican voters in Cullman and Blount counties go to the polls Tuesday to elect a GOP nominee for the House District 11 special election.

Heath Allbright, a 39-year-old business man and former member of the Cullman County Board of Education, will compete against Don Fallin, a 60-year-old military veteran.

The district covers part of Cullman and Blount counties.

When do polls open?

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. 

Where do I find my polling place?

The Alabama Secretary of State’s website allows you to check voter registration and the location of your polling place. You can find it here.

What do I need to vote?

Voters must present a valid photo ID before voting. Valid forms of ID include: 

• Alabama driver’s license (not expired or expired less than 60 days)
• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency digital driver’s license
• Alabama Non-Driver ID (not expired or expired less than 60 days)
• Alabama Photo Voter ID card
• State-issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
• Federal-issued ID
• U.S. Passport
• Employee ID from the federal government; state of Alabama; county; municipality, board or other entity of Alabama
• Student or employee ID from a public or private post-secondary educational institution in Alabama or other states (including colleges, universities, postgraduate technical and professional schools)
• Digital student or employee ID from a public or private post-secondary educational institution in Alabama or other states (including colleges, universities, postgraduate technical and professional schools)
• Military ID
• Tribal ID

Where is the district located?

The district covers part of Cullman and Blount counties, including Snead, Oneota, Hanceville and Blountsville.

How did the seat become vacant?

The seat became vacant after former Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, resigned on Feb. 17 to be Senate Pro Tem Garland Gudger’s director of constituent affairs.

Does the seat have a partisan lean?

District 11 is solidly Republican. Shedd, who won the seat in a 2013 special election, never faced opposition in any subsequent general election. 

What issues dominate the race?

SB 322, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, was signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on May 7. The bill allows the City of Cullman to annex a resort in Cullman County, a dry county, in order for the resort to serve alcohol. Allbright opposes the legislation. Allbright said the timing of the legislation was poor.

Cullman County currently does not have representation in the House after Shedd resigned in February and former Rep. Corey Harbison, a Republican, resigned in April after not being present for most of the session. 

Allbright said he wants more local control of education and said the CHOOSE Act is as local as it gets. He also supports the RAISE Act on the same principle.

Fallin declined to comment on any election-related issues.

What happens after today?

The Republican with the most votes will face Democratic candidate Alex Brasswell, a 30-year-old American Sign Language interpreter, in the special general election on Aug. 26. If a candidate does not receive 50% of the vote, a runoff primary election will be held on June 10.

Will the results alter control of the Legislature?

No. Republicans currently hold 74 of the 105 seats in the lower chamber and 26 of the 35 seats in the upper chamber.