Primary Elections

Fayette County voters returned to the polls Tuesday to decide two Republican runoff races, selecting Jeananne Edwards as the party’s nominee for Revenue Commissioner and Steve Sawyer as the Republican nominee for Fayette County Superintendent of Education. According to unofficial results released by the Fayette County Probate Office, 3,613 ballots were cast in the June 16 Primary Runoff Election. Fayette County recorded a voter turnout of 28.33 percent among its 12,755 registered voters. The closest race of the night was the contest for Fayette County Superintendent of Education.

Fayette County voters joined Alabamians across the state Tuesday in casting ballots in several closely watched primary races, with multiple local contests heading to runoff elections next month. Locally, the races for superintendent of education and revenue commissioner will continue into the June 16 runoff election after no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in the May 19 primary. In the Republican primary for superintendent of education, Steve Sawyer and Dr. Jeremy Madden secured the top two spots to advance to the runoff.

As local elections approach, voters in Fayette County may notice that their ballots do not always look the same as someone else’s, even within the same community. That difference often comes down to how districts are drawn. Some local offices, such as members of the Fayette County Board of Education or County Commission, are elected by district rather than countywide. This means only voters who live within a specific district will see that race on their ballot.

As election day grows closer, understanding what a county commissioner does is only part of the equation. Just as important is knowing what to look for in the people running for the role. Because county commissioners make decisions that affect roads, budgets, and essential services, the position requires a mix of practical knowledge, sound judgment, and a willingness to serve the community.

How voting has changed in Fayette County