As the end of 2019 approaches, campaigns for the 20202 general and municipal elections will begin to heat up.

With just more than six months until the primary elections, officials are already making preparations to prepare the polls.

As work was being done this week to prepare the ballot machines for the election, Probate Judge Michael Bunn reminded residents that there are no concerns about election hacking locally.

“Our equipment cannot be hacked,” Bunn said. “It is100 percent safe and never connected to the internet.”

There have been two polling location changes made so far that voters in those districts need to be aware of, Bunn said.

Instead of the Ralph Adams Armory, voters in Precinct 6 will vote at the Collegedale Church of Christ. Poll workers and residents requested the move due to the armory’s lack of air conditioning

The Hastings Hardware polling location has been moved to Brundidge Station due to renovations expected to be in progress during election day.

In both the General Election and municipal elections, candidates can already begin raising money, although no general election candidates have filed any contributions or expenditures yet. Municipal candidates have only been able to raise funds since the end of August and have not yet been required to file any finance reports.

Candidates on the primary ballots must qualify by 5 p.m. on November 8. Independent parties have until March 3, 2020, to qualify.

Municipal candidates are not required to announce campaigns until July 27, 2020.

The Republican and Democratic primaries will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. If a runoff is needed, it will be held March 31. The gap between the primary election and runoff was shortened by an act of the Alabama legislature in its last session.

The state’s crossover voting ban remains in effect, meaning that voters who participate in one party’s primary cannot vote in the other party’s runoff. However, any voter who does not participate in the primary elections may vote in either party runoff. All voters may vote for either party in the General Election.

The municipal elections will be held on August 25, 2020. If a runoff is needed, it will be held on October 6, 2020.

The current members of the Pike County Commission are Homer Wright, District 1; Robin Sullivan, District 2; Jimmy Barron, District 3; Chad Copeland, District 4; Charlie Harris, District 5; and Russell Johnson, District 6.

In addition to the commission races, the General Election ballot will include a race for Alabama’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Rep. Martha Roby will not be seeking reelection for a sixth term.

Other races on the ballot will include one U.S. Senate seat, currently held by Democrat Doug Jones; two associate judge seats on the Alabama Supreme Court; two seats on Alabama’s Court of Civil Appeals; two seats on Alabama’s Court of Criminal Appeals; president of the Alabama Public Service Commission; and four seats on the Alabama Board of Education (Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7).

All municipal council and mayoral seats will be up for reelection.

The current members of the Troy City Council are Robert Jones, District 1; Greg Meeks, District 2; Marcus Paramore, District 3; Stephanie Baker, District 4; and Wanda Moultry, District 5. The mayor is Jason Reeves.

The Brundidge City Council includes Betty Baxter, District 1; Arthur Griffin, District 2; Margaret Ross, District 3; Byron Gaynor, District 4; and Chris Foster, District 5. Isabell Boyd is mayor.

The Goshen City Council includes Mack Barber, Jimmy Bryan, Jared Buchanan and Shaun Richburg. The mayor is Darren Jordan.

The Banks City Council includes Kim Henderson, Donald Smith, Jeff Hollis, Leonardo Brent and Lynn Wilson. The mayor is Lisa Culpepper.

Eligible voters may register to vote up to 14 days prior to the election. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted five or more days before the election and ballots must be returned by the day before the election.