Title 11 — Title 11

A majority of the qualified electors of any county, except those counties that have built new courthouses in the past 20 years, may petition the Governor in writing, praying that an election be held in such county for the purpose of determining whether the county seat or site sha…

Said commissioners shall give notice of the date established for holding the election by publishing a copy of said order for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper published in the county or, if there be no newspaper published in the county, by posting a copy of said order at the …

Between 10 and 30 days prior to the day appointed for such election the said board of commissioners shall appoint three inspectors, two clerks, and one returning officer to hold and conduct said election for each of the voting places in the county. One of said inspectors and one …

Said board of commissioners shall notify or cause to be notified the persons so appointed as inspectors, clerks, and returning officers for each voting place in the county prior to the day appointed for the election. History: (Code 1907, §186; Code 1923, §278; Code 1940, T. 12, §…

Before entering upon their duties, the inspectors, clerks, and returning officers must take an oath to perform their duties pertaining to said election honestly, faithfully, and impartially and according to law, which oath may be administered by any officer authorized by law to a…

The returning officer for each precinct or ward is clothed with all the power and charged with all the duties of a peace officer under the laws of the state while engaged in the discharge of his duties as such returning officer. History: (Code 1907, §198; Code 1923, §290; Code 19…

Each returning officer, manager, or inspector shall receive as compensation for his services the same pay as is paid like officers of general elections, which shall be paid by the county treasurer upon the order of said board of commissioners. History: (Code 1907, §199; Code 1923…

Returning Officers. The inspectors, clerks, and returning officers thus appointed must meet at the place of holding elections in the several precincts or wards for which they are appointed by 9:00 A.M. of the day of the election and, before 10:00 A.M., open the several polling pl…

Attend. On the failure of any inspector or clerk to attend at the hour of 9:00 A.M., the inspector or inspectors present shall complete the number by appointing a qualified elector in the place of each inspector or clerk so absent, every such appointment to be so made that each s…

The inspectors, before they commence receiving ballots, must cause it to be proclaimed aloud at the place of voting that the election is opened. History: (Code 1907, §190; Code 1923, §282; Code 1940, T. 12, §245.)

Each qualified elector shall be entitled to cast one ballot and no more, which ballot must be a paper ticket on which must be written or printed the words, “For removal to _____,” or the words, “Against removal,” as the elector may desire to vote. No official ballot shall be requ…

Appointment. The Governor shall, within 30 days after the filing of the petition with him, appoint three commissioners for such election who shall be qualified electors of such county and shall not hold any state or county office, and, thereupon, the Governor shall cause them to …

The name of each elector whose ballot has been received must immediately be taken down by each clerk on separate lists, which shall be known as the poll list, and the number or the order in which each elector votes must at the same time be entered by each clerk against his name, …

Qualifications for Voting. The judge of probate must furnish to the board of commissioners provided for in this chapter a duly certified list of the registered voters in each precinct or ward in the county on request of said commissioners or either of them and the payment of one …

Lists. Immediately on the closing of the polls, the inspectors must count the ballots and certify the number of votes cast “For removal to _____” and the number of votes cast “Against removal,” and certify on one of the poll lists that such poll list is the poll list of the elect…

Result. The board of commissioners shall meet at the courthouse of the county on the next day after the day on which such election is held and there remain and receive the returns from the several returning officers, and on the second day after the day on which such election is h…

If it shall be made to appear to said board that the returns from any precinct or ward are destroyed or withheld or the delivery thereof purposely delayed or prevented, said board shall take such steps as in their judgment may be necessary in order to secure correct returns there…

Election Result. The board of commissioners upon the conclusion of canvassing said returns shall certify in writing the result of said election, a copy of which shall be filed and recorded in the office of the judge of probate of the county and another copy published by at least …

Any duty required by this chapter to be performed by the said board of commissioners of county seat election may be performed by a majority of them, and a majority of inspectors of election shall govern in the determination of all questions coming before them as such inspectors. …

If upon canvass of the returns of said election a majority of all the legal votes cast were in favor of the removal of the county seat, then the city, town, or village thus elected shall thereafter be the county seat of the county. History: (Code 1907, §201; Code 1923, §293; Code…

Jail. The county commission shall then procure by donation or by purchase at the expense of the county suitable lots or parcels of land in such city, town, or village, taking the fee simple title thereto to the county, and shall cause to be erected at the expense of the county a …

and Jail. When said courthouse shall be completed and ready for occupancy, the said county officers shall remove their offices and the records thereof to such offices or rooms in the new courthouse as may be designated for them respectively by the county commission, and the sheri…

The persons so appointed shall be known as the board of commissioners of county seat election, and the Governor shall designate one of them as the chairman of such board. History: (Code 1907, §177; Code 1923, §269; Code 1940, T. 12, §232.)

Prior to the removal referred to in Section 11-16-29, all courts of record for the county shall be held at the original courthouse thereof. But after such removal, all courts of record for the county shall be held at the new county seat and, if need be, the county commission must…

Provided at New Site. All county officials who are required to hold their offices at the county seats shall have their offices and all courts held for such county shall be held at the old county seat until the suitable buildings and offices can be provided by the county commissio…

Proceedings as to Two or More Petitions. The Governor shall not entertain any petition under Section 11-16-1 which he may have reason to believe is not made in good faith by persons desiring a removal of the county seat. If two or more bona fide petitions with respect to the prop…

Site. Whenever the county commission of any county shall determine that it is advisable to erect a new courthouse for such county on a site in the city or town where the courthouse is located, which site was not within the corporate limits of such city or town when such courthous…

New Site. The county commission, after the passage of such resolution, shall order an election to be held in said county to determine whether or not the courthouse shall be erected on such new site. History: (Acts 1927, No. 399, p. 467; Code 1940, T. 12, §263.)

Notice of such election shall be given for 30 days by publication in a newspaper published in said county once a week for three successive weeks, which notice shall state the purpose for which the election is to be held, the time and place for holding the same and a description o…

The ballot used at such election must be prepared by the probate judge and shall contain the words “For erection of courthouse on site _____” and “Against erection of courthouse on site _____” (the description of the site to be shown in the blank space), and the voter shall indic…

Officers; Laws Governing Elections. The probate judge, the circuit clerk, and the sheriff of said county, within 10 days after notice in writing to them of the calling of such election, shall appoint three managers and one returning officer to conduct the election in each beat or…

If at such election a majority of the qualified electors of the county voting at the election shall vote for the erection of a courthouse on the proposed site, it shall be permissible to erect a courthouse on such proposed site. History: (Acts 1927, No. 399, p. 467; Code 1940, T.…

Election. When one election has been held under this chapter, a subsequent election as to the same county shall not be held within four years thereafter. History: (Code 1907, §207; Code 1923, §299; Code 1940, T. 12, §268.)

Each of the persons appointed must, within 15 days after his appointment, take and file in the office of the Secretary of State an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Alabama and to honestly, faithfully, and impartially perform the duties…

Any officer or person who shall willfully or corruptly fail to perform any duty required of him under any of the provisions of this chapter; or shall fraudulently alter or change the ballot of any elector after it has been cast; or shall make any false or fraudulent count of vote…

A commission shall issue in the usual form, accompanied by a copy of said petition certified to by the Secretary of State, on the payment of the usual fees therefor for the use of the state. The Secretary of State shall file and record said petition in his office. History: (Code …

If any person appointed commissioner shall fail or refuse to qualify or if any vacancy shall occur in the membership of said board at any time during its existence, the Governor shall fill such vacancy, and the appointee shall qualify as provided in Sections 11-16-2 and 11-16-4. …

If at any time it shall be made to appear to the Governor that any commissioner has willfully neglected to discharge in good faith any duty resting upon him under the provisions of this chapter or is physically unable or otherwise incompetent to properly perform such duties or is…

Within 30 days after their appointment and qualification, said board of commissioners shall, in writing, order and fix the time for the holding of an election in the several precincts or wards of the county, which date for holding such election shall not be less than 60 days nor …

The order may be substantially as follows: Order for county seat election. The State of Alabama, _____ County. A majority of the qualified electors of this county having petitioned the Governor praying that an election be held in this county on the question of removing the county…