Record Low Turnout Shadows Alabama’s Local Elections: Runoffs Ahead

Mobile, AL (BuzzReport) – Alabama voters went to the polls on August 26 to select mayors, city council members, and fill special State House seats. Yet the conversation following Election Day has been less about victories and losses—and more about who didn’t show up. 

Statewide, officials reported historically low voter participation, with turnout dipping below 20 percent in many cities, including Birmingham and Mobile. In Mobile specifically, the numbers were sobering: out of 151,630 registered voters, only 41,244 cast a ballot—a turnout of just 27.2 percent. That means more than 72 percent of registered voters in the Port City stayed home. 

The data revealed even sharper divides along racial lines. Black voter turnout in Mobile was estimated around 12 percent. Political observers note that a stronger showing among Black voters may have been decisive for State Representative Barbara Drummond, who came close to winning the mayor’s race outright. Instead, she will now face former District Court Judge Spiro Cheriogotis in a September 23 runoff. 

Still, the lack of enthusiasm was not confined to any one group or candidate. White contenders like Paul Prine, Connie Hudson, and others each struggled to energize their base while competing for modest slices of the Black vote. Their support ranged from 5 to 7 percent, underscoring the election’s fractured dynamics. 

Why Stay Home?

Interviews with voters reveal widespread disillusionment.

“I didn’t vote because I wasn’t excited about any of the candidates,” said James Carpenter of Mobile. “Now that it’s down to two, maybe I’ll consider voting in the runoff.” 

Others expressed frustration over the lack of outsider candidates. “I wanted someone not tied to the political establishment,” said Sarah Hall, a 29-year-old Mobile resident. “We didn’t have that choice this time.” 

Richard Collins, another Mobile voter, lamented the erosion of civic engagement. “Our forefathers fought and bled for this right,” he said. “Too many of us are wasting it.” 

Birmingham Tells A Different Story

In Birmingham, turnout was similarly anemic—just under 20 percent of voters participated despite crowded fields of 10 candidates for mayor and 20-plus candidates for city council. Still, Mayor Randall Woodfin secured reelection without the need for a runoff. 

What’s at Stake in the Runoff?

Runoff elections across Alabama are scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Between now and then, candidates face the challenge of energizing apathetic voters by addressing a slate of pressing local issues. 

Residents cite concerns ranging from taxes, infrastructure, and housing affordability to crime reduction, educational investment, and job opportunities. Immigration has also emerged as a new flashpoint in local politics, as federal enforcement actions increasingly spill into Alabama communities. 

Despite the apathy displayed on Tuesday, the stakes in the upcoming September 23 runoff couldn’t be higher. A wide range of pressing local issues hangs in the balance. 

Among them: 

• Taxes and Infrastructure: Mobile’s aging roads, stormwater systems, and port-related infrastructure demand considerable investment. Candidates will face questions about how to finance improvements without overburdening taxpayers. 
• Crime Reduction: Gun violence and property crime remain a top concern for residents, particularly in inner-city neighborhoods. Both candidates will need to prove they can balance public safety with community-based approaches to policing. 
• Low-Income Housing and Education: With rising rents and under-resourced schools, affordable housing and education reform have surfaced as pressing priorities for families. 
• Jobs and Economic Growth: Local leaders are under pressure to lure new employers while also supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs who anchor neighborhood economies. 
• Immigration: Once considered primarily a federal issue, immigration is affecting municipal politics too. With ICE raids in Alabama communities disrupting families and businesses, mayors are increasingly being asked how much they will cooperate — or push back — against federal enforcement inside city limits.

The challenge for both Drummond and Cheriogotis is clear: convince tens of thousands of Alabamians who stayed home in August to reconsider their choices in September. 

“This low turnout is a disgrace,” said Mary Taylor of Birmingham. “People need to realize they’re voting for our future—our families, kids, and grandkids.” 

The Road Ahead

For Drummond and Cheriogotis, the path to victory lies not only in consolidating their existing bases but also in inspiring tens of thousands who sat out the August election to participate in September. Whether voters feel the stakes are high enough to turn out could determine not only who leads Alabama’s largest Gulf Coast city, but also whether the state reverses a troubling trend of disengagement at the ballot box. 

Municipal runoff elections for Mayor and City Council races will be held Tuesday, September 23, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling locations remain unchanged.