How Alabama's Special Primary Election Works

Alabama uses a closed primary election system. Voters may participate in either the Republican or Democratic primary, but they may only vote in one party's primary during the special primary election. Under Alabama's crossover voting law, a voter who participates in one party's primary cannot vote in another party's runoff election for the same election.

Alabama requires a candidate to receive a majority of the vote to win a party's nomination. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the special primary, the top two candidates advance to a runoff election. The winner of the runoff becomes the party's nominee for the special general election.