Commitment 2018: Alabama Election Countdown Part 2
Commitment 2018: Alabama Election Countdown Part 2
WEBVTT ELECTION DAY, VOTERS WILL BE CHOOSING WHO DECIDES HOW THEIR TAX MONEY IS SPENT. >> WE HAVE A PREVIEW OF SOME OF THE HEATED LEGISLATE -- LEGISLATIVE RACES ACROSS THE AREA. >> THERE ARE 28 DISTRICTS FOR VOTERS IN OUR AREA TO DECIDE ON. HERE’S A LOOK AT THE TOP DOZEN. >> A COUPLE OF NEWCOMERS VYING TO REPRESENT THE HEART OF THE HILLS. DAVID WHEELER I FACING OFF AGAINST JIM TO ME FOR DISTRICT 47. THEY BOTH LEA THAT A FOCUS ON VOCATIONAL TRAINING IS A KEY FOR THE FUTUR. >> WELL-PAYING JOBS WITH A GOOD FUTURE, THAT’S WHERE WE NEED TO PUT O PRIORITY. A FOUR YEAR DEGREE IS A WONDERFUL THING, BUT IT’S NOT THE RIGHT THING FO EVERYBODY AND YOU END UP WITH STUDENT DEBT, VERY OFTEN. >> IN ANOTHER BIG BIRMINGHAM AREA RACE, DAV FAULKNER IS UP AGAINST ALICIA STEWART FOR DISTRICT 46. KNOWN FOR FIGHTING THE BIRMINGHAM MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AND THE CITY COUNCIL PLAN TO TRIPLE SALARIES WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT. HE IS A BUSINESS EXECUTIVE WHO SUPPORTS MEDICAID EXPANSION AN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. FRESH REPRESENTATION IS ON THE WAY FOR TUSCALOOSA VOTER RODNEY SULLIVAN AND THOMAS HEISE ARE BATTLING F DISTRICT 61. HE WANTS TO FIX WHAT HE CALLS THE BROKE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. >> THAT’S A BIG DEAL, THE BUDGET IS THE KEY TO WHAT THE STATE CAN DO. IF WE WORK HARD ON GETTING THAT RIGHT, I THINK WE WILL BE BETTER OFF THAN A LOT OF OTHER AREAS. AND HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES >> POLITICIANS DON’T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT INCREASING TAXES, MOST OF THE TIME IT’ DEATH TO THE CAMPAIGN, BUT SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO STEP UP. >> OUR NEXT RACE IS A FAMILIAR FACE FACING OFF AGAINST AN INJURED EAGER CHALLENGER. CARNES, A POLITIC VETERAN TOUTS HIS WORK ON WELFARE REFORM AND VOTER CHANGES. SHE SUPPORTS STRONGER ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND HOME RULE FOR CITIES LIKE BIRMINGHAM. AMONG THE EIGHT SENATE SEATS UP FOR GRABS, DISTRICT SIX FEATURES LARRY STOTTS AGAINST JOHNNY MACK MORROW. BUT HE’S NO POLITICAL NEWCOMER, SERVING IN THE HOUSE FOR THE LAST 28 YEARS, HE WAS PUSHING STATEWIDE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET AND IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE. STUDS IS GYNECOLOGIST WHO SUPPORTS BETTER BETTER IT’S -- BENEFITS FOR VETERANS. CAM WAR VERSUS SHARY MCDONALD IS IN DISTRICT 14. HER GOAL IS TO BREAK THE MENTALITY OF MONTGOMERY. >> CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE OF MOVING FORWARD INTO SOME SORT OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTION -- DIRECTION FOR THE STATE. WE HAVE NOT STEPPED INTO THAT FOR A VERY LONG TIME. >> WARD FEELS THAT ALABAMA MUST TACKLE ITS CRUMBLING HIGHWAYS IMMEDIATELY. >> WIDEN THE INTERSTATES SO THAT THEY ARE NOT A DEADLY PARKING LOT. YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THOSE PROJECTS. >> LIKE I MENTIONED, THERE ARE 28 RACES UP FOR GRABS, THAT I LESS THAN HALF THE DISTRICTS IN THE VIEWING AREA. TURNS OUT THAT CANDIDATES FOR 34 OF THE SPACES HAVE NO OPPOSITION AND HAVE ALREADY ONE. >> TAKING A CLOSE LOOK AT THE AT -- AMENDMENTS ON ELECTION DAY. >> GUY RAWLINGS BREAKS DOWN AMENDMENT FOR AND EXPLAINS WHAT VOTING YES WOULD MEAN. >> THE FOURTH AMENDMENT SET UP A SYSTEM TO FILL VACANCIES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR ELECTION. IT STATES THAT WHEN A STATE LAWMAKER IS ELECTED NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR TERM WITH LESS THAN TWO YEARS REMAINING, THE SEAT WOULD REMAINED VACANT UNTIL THE NEXT REGULAR ELECTION. RIGHT NOW THE GOVERNOR’S WIRED TO SCHEDULE SPECIAL ELECTIONS FOR OPEN SEATS. PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF VOTING YES SAY THAT IT SAVES TAXPAYERS MONEY. FOLKS AGAINST IT SAY THAT TAKES POWERS AWAY FROM VOTERS. >> HEADING TO THE POLLS CAN BE DAUNTING, ESPECIALLY ON MAJOR ELECTION DAYS. >> AS I FOUND OUT LAST WEEK, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE. >> WE ARE HERE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN CAST YOUR VOTE ON ELECTION DAY. >> YOUR POLLING LOCATION IS BASED ON YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. YOU MUST GO TO YOUR ASSIGNED LOCATION. WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH HERE AT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. LET’S GO. THE FIRST THING THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS TO HAVE YOUR ID HANDY. ALEXANDRIA STEVE IS THE ELECTION COORDINATOR AND SOME THINGS ARE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR? YOU ON HOW TO WAIT IN LINE IN ORDER TO VOTE. THE NEW TECHNOLOGY MAKES THE PROCESS A LOT EASIER. >> THAT’S CORRECT, YOU HAVE TO COME IN WITH A ACCEPTABLE FORM OF PHOTO ID, YOU WALK OVER TO THE CHECK-IN AND IF IT’S A DRIVERS LICENSE OR ID, THEY HAVE BARCODES ON THE BACK. THE CLERK WILL SCAN THE ID, YOUR INFORMATION WILL POP UP. THE CLERK THE SWIVEL IT AROUND TO YOU, YOU VERIFY YOUR INFORMATION, YOU SIGN AND YOU GET A BALLOT RECEIPT. >> ICE AND EASY. ONCE YOU GET THAT, YOU GO DOWN TO THE BALLO CLERK, YOU GIVE THE CLERK YOUR RECEIPT AND YOU RETRIEVE YOUR BALLOT. >> SO, THEN YOU FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE BALLOT BOOTH? X RIGHT, YOU GO TO THE VOTING BOOT, YOU VOTE YOUR BALLOT, AND ONCE YOU’RE DONE YOU GO OVER TO THE BALLOT MACHINE. DEPOSIT BALLOT. ONCE YOU HAVE DEPOSITED YOUR BALLOT, YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER STICKER. >> WHAT IF THERE ARE SOME DIFFICULTIES THAT YO HAVE? WHETHER IT IS FILLING OUT YOUR BALLOT OR COMING TO THE MACHINE? >> YOU CAN ALWAYS REQUEST ASSISTANCE. YOU CAN BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU OR GO TO THE POLL WORKERS AND THEY WILL HAVE SOMEONE REGISTER THE ISSUE. >> NEW TECHNOLOGY AT THE POLLS SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS FOR VOTERS . WE ARE TOLD THAT IT MAKES FOR BETTER EXPERIENCE OVERALL. >> UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM WITH ALPHABETIC SPLIT, YOUR LENGTH IN TIME, THE STUDIES SHOW, ON AVERAG IS ONE MINUTE 30 SECONDS. WITH THE POLE PAD SYSTEM, THAT REDUCES IT. >> WITH THOUSANDS OF VOTERS, THIS WILL SAVE A LOT OF TIME. A LOT OF PEOPLE WORK TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE. >> ON THE FRONT LINES, POLL WORKERS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN SELECTED, EACH GOING THROUGH TRAINING EVERY FOUR DAYS TO FIVE DAYS, LEARNING WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW >> WE GO THROUGH START TO FINISH, OPENING TO CLOSI, WE ARE SURE TO TELL THE POLL WORKERS TO COME IN, TURN IN YOUR MACHINES. YOU DON’T WANT SOMEONE TO COME IN AND FIND THEM NOT UP AND RUNNING. YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR WHOLE PASS SET UP SO THAT AT 7 A.M. YOU’RE READY TO GO. >> FIVE DIFFERENT TRAININGS ARE SET UP IN JEFFERS COUNTY. STILL AHEAD, A LOOK AT JUST HOW BIG A ROLE WOMEN WILL PLAY ON THIS ELECTION DAY. >> WE WILL CHECK OUT A SAMPLE BALLOT SO THAT HE WON’T HAVE ANY SURPRISES AT THE POLLS >> AS WE COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION DAY, WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR CONGRESS. >> WE WANT TO FOCUS ON DISTRICT THREE, STRETCHING FROM CEDAR BLUFF PAST TUSKEGEE. THE RACE FEATURES THE INCUMBENT PUBLIC AND CONGRESSMAN MIKE ROGERS AND FORMER MISS AMERICA AND DEMOCRATIC MALA NOMINEE, MALLORY HAGAN. THE NEXT CONGRESSMAN WILL LIKEL BE CAST WITH BORDER SECURITY PROTECTION. >> T ONLY WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO BE ABLE TO STEM THE FLOW OF BAD ACTORS INTO THIS COUNTRY IS TO BUILD A BARRI. THE WALL IS THE TERM USED, BUT IT’S NOT TECHNICALLY A WALL IT’S A SERIES OF FENCING MONITORS UNDERGROUND. >> THE CONGRESSMAN SAYS IT’S ESSENTIAL PIECE OF SECURING THE BORDER. IN THE SHORT TERM, HE SAYS THEY HAVE TO FRONT THE MONEY, BUT SAYS HE IS EXPLORI OPTIONS TO PAY THE MONEY BACK. >> I HAVE INTRODUCED BILL THAT WOULD PUT A 2% FEE ON REMITTANCES TO SOU AMERICA. MOST OF THE ILLEGALS THAT COME HERE SEND MOST OF THE MONEY THAT THEY HAVE BACK ON WIRE TRANSFERS CALL REMITTANCE. IT’S ONE OF THE PRIMARY SOURCES OF REVEN, FOR THE COUNTRY OF MEXICO AND OTHER SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES. $1 BILLION PER YEAR IS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THE WAL, BUT IT WILL BE A NICE LITTLE SHOT IN THE ARM AND I HAVE URGED THE PRESIDENT TO EMBRACE THAT AS A ELEMENT TO PAY FOR SECURING THE BORDER. >> MALLORY HAGAN SAYS THAT THE BORDER WALL WOULD BE AN INSANE WASTE OF MONEY AND IS NOT SUPPORTED, SHE WANTS TO SEE THOSE RESOURCES USED ELSEWHERE. SHE SAYS THAT IMPROVING SECURITY COMES FROM IMPROVING THE PROCESS BY WHICH PEOPLE COME TO THE COUNTRY AND BECOME CITIZENS >> A LOT OF PEOPLE OVERSTAY THEIR VISAS. I DON’T THINK THAT ORDER SECURITY IS THE PROBLEM, IT’S PEOPLE STAYING IN THE COUNTRY THAT’S THE PROBLEM. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE KNOW THE PEOPLE ARE HERE. WHICH WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN EXTEND THEIR VISAS AND CAN STAY IN THE COUNTRY. >> EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT VOTER FATIGUE AFFECTING TURNOUT. >> THAT’S THE ONLY THING THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. LISA FINDS OUT JUST HOW IMPORTANT WOMEN WILL BE THIS ELECTI DAY. >> NO DOUBT THAT WOMEN WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. MELISSA GRAYSON IS HERE WITH ME NOW TO GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT ON THAT. WOMEN ALWAYS LAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE PARTICULARLY FIRED UP. >> WE SAW THAT IN 2016, MUCH OF THE ELECTION CAME DOWN TO SUBURBAN WOMEN VOTERS COMING OUT IN STATES LIKE PENNSYLVANIA AND OH. SO, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ENERGY RIGHT NOW. THE KAVANAUGH HEARINGS HAVE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGED WOM TO VOICE THEIR OPINION. ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WE ARE MAINLY SEEING WOMEN COMING OU MAYBE THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO DR. FORD, FEELING THE ME TOO MOVEMENT. YOU ALSO HAVE A LOT OF CONSERVATIVE WOMEN SPEAKING OUT. WOMEN WHO SAID -- WHAT IF THIS WAS MY SON? THEY ARE ANGRY AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT KAVANAUGH WAS ATTACKED AND ITS ENERGIZING FOR THEM TO SHOW UP TO VOT. >> A FEW MINUTES AGO WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, ONE POLL INDICATED THAT REPUBLICAN WOMEN MAY BE MORE FIRED UP IN THE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OVER THOSE HEARINGS. >> THI A SECOND COMPONENT TO THAT. A LOT OF THOSE WOMEN ARE TRUMPS ORDERS. A LOT OF WHAT WE SEE IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS IS THAT IF YOU ARE A SUPPORTER OF THE PRESIDENT, YOU WILL COME OUT AND STILL BE FIRED UP T VOTE. I THINK THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO MAY GET A LOT OF WOMEN OUT VOTE. >> WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS O. MELISSA, THANKS SO MUCH. >> YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAI UNTIL ELECTION DAY TO SEE WHAT YOUR BALLOT LOOKS LIKE. LET’S GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SAMPLE BALLOT. >> FIRST OFF, YOU MUST FILL IN THE OVAL COMPLETELY. DON’T MAKE AN. IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, DON’ ERASE, ASK FOR A NEW BALLOT. THE FIRST DOCS ON THE TOP LEFT IS FOR STRAIGHT ALREADY VOTING. BY CHOOSING THIS, YOU WILL BE VOTING FOR THE SAME PARTY FOR EVERY RACE ON THE TICKET. THEN YOU WOULD BE DONE FOR VOTING FOR CANDIDATES THAT YOU COULD SKIP AHEAD TO THE AMENDMENT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE EACH RACE INDIVIDUALLY, THI IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. FIRST, GOVERNOR. NOTICE, IT SAYS VOTE FOR ONE. SELECT YOUR PICK. THERE IS ALSO AN OPTION TO WRITE IN ANOTHER CANDIDATE. NOT ALL BALLOTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE WILL BE THE SAME. EACH DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT. YOU CAN FIND YOUR BALLOT BY GOING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALABAMA VOTES WEBSITE, CLICK ON TOOLKIT AND CLICK THE GENERAL ELECTI SAMPLE BALLOT TO FIND YOUR COUNTY. ONE THING THAT WILL BE THE SAME ON ALL BALLOTS IS THE FOUR STATEWIDE AMENDMENTS. IN SOME AREAS THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS YOU WILL BE ASKED TO DECIDE ON. MAKE SURE THAT YOU EDUCATE YOURSELF ON PROPOSALS AND AMENDMENTS BEFORE YOU GET TO THE POLLS. MANY TIMES THE LANGUAGE CAN BE TRICKY. TO VOTE, SELECT YES OR NO. YOU CAN PRINT THE BALLOT ONLINE YOURSELF, YOU CAN EVEN TAKE A MARKED SAMPLE BALLOT INTO THE POLLING PLACE. THEY ARE FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE, THOUGH, NOT TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER PEOPLE. AND LEAVE A MARKED SAMPLE BALLOT IN THE POLLING PLACE. >> THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT, THAT JUSTICE IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD OF THE ALABAMA JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE CHIEF JUSTICE WILL LIKELY BE TASKED WITH ADDRESSING FUNDING ISSUES IN TH COURT SYSTEM. GOING HEAD TO HEAD, TOM PARKER AND BOB VANCE. BOTH AGREE THAT ADDRESSING FUNDING ISSUES IN TH SYSTEM IS THE BIGGEST ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE TACKLED. >> FUNDING IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE, NO DOUBT ABOUT I I HAVE LIVED THROUGH FINANCIAL CRISIS, AS THAT OF -- DEPUT DIRECTOR I HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE HURT AND THE HARM IT CAUSES. THESE ARE STRONG ENGINES PROVIDING FUNDS AND THEY NEED TO BE RESTORED TO FULL CAPACITY. >> JUSTICE PARKER SAYS THAT HE WANTS ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY TOWARDS THE COURT SYSTEM TO BE USED TO ADDRESS STAFFING ISSUES AND SAYS HE WILL RELY ON HIS LOBBYING EXPERIENCE TO PERSUADE LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE NEED FOR INCREASED FUNDING. HIS OPPONENT SAYS LEGISLATURES HAVE TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT FUNDING IS AND THAT EVERYONE HAS A ROLE IN MAKING SURE THE BOARDS ADDITIONAL MONEY IS NECESSARY WITH THE INCREASED DEMAND ON THE STATE COURT SYSTEM. >> FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, FUNDING HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO THE BOARD WE NEED RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN SERVE PEOPLE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO DIFFICULT TO GET THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE PROGRAMS OF LACE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA. SO, IT’S A CONSTANT EFFORT TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE SURE THAT COURTS HAVE THE FUNDING NEEDE >> COMING UP NEXT, ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE MOST C
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Commitment 2018: Alabama Election Countdown Part 2
Part two of WVTM 13's Alabama election countdown special includes interviews with candidates running for U.S. Congress, Alabama House of Representatives and Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.Click or tap here to watch part oneImportant Links for Alabama VotersVoterRegistrationElectionInformationMy PollingPlaceAbsenteeVotingPurchaseVoter ListBallotMeasuresUpcomingElectionsElectionLawsCampaignFinancePhotoVoter ID
Part two of WVTM 13's Alabama election countdown special includes interviews with candidates running for U.S. Congress, Alabama House of Representatives and Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
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Click or tap here to watch part one
Important Links for Alabama Voters
Voter
Registration
Election
Information
My Polling
Place
Absentee
Voting
Purchase
Voter List
Ballot
Measures
Upcoming
Elections
Election
Laws
Campaign
Finance
Photo
Voter ID