Municipal Election Information for Candidates

Candidate Information:

Notice:  Update on Qualification Period

Qualification Dates for 2020 Election: 
July 7-21, 2020
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Candidates qualify through the City Clerk’s Office at Decatur City Hall (402 Lee Street NE, Decatur, AL 35601).

Please contact the City Clerk regarding election questions at 256-341-4530 or electionquestions@decatur-al.gov.

The qualification fee for candidates seeking election is $50.00.

During the qualification period, candidates will file a Statement of Candidacy form with the City Clerk. Candidates also will file a Statement of Economic Interests form with the Alabama Ethics Commission. It is recommended that candidates when filing their Statement of Candidacy with the City Clerk also file their Statement of Economic Interest form with the Ethic Commission. If a candidate has already filed, they need to bring proof of his or her filing. The Statement of Economic Interests form may be completed online at Alabama Ethics Commission. Candidates who already have a current Statement of Economics Interests form on file with the Ethics Commission do not have to file a duplicate statement at qualification. Forms will also be available at the City Clerk’s Office during the qualification period.

Candidates must be a registered voter of the municipality at the time of qualification. City Council candidates must have been a resident of the municipal district they seek to serve for at least 90 days prior to the election. Candidates for the office of Mayor must also have been a resident of the municipality for at least 90 days prior to the election.

Information Regarding the Fair Campaign Practices Act:

The Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) sets out rules for how and when candidates can raise and spend money. The law also specifies how campaign finance activities are reported. It is the candidate’s responsibility to comply with the FCPA.

The Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) defines a candidate as one who has:

1. Qualified as a candidate during the qualification period (July 5, 2016 at 8:00 A.M. through July 19, 2016 at 5:00 P.M.); or
2. Received contributions or made expenditures for an election campaign in excess of $1,000.00.

The FCPA requires all candidates who receive contributions or make expenditures of $1,000 or more to report his or her contributions or expenditures. Within five days after a candidate either (1) qualifies for the election; or 2) meets the $1,000 threshold amount, he or she must file an Appointment of Principal Campaign form and begin to file monthly and/or weekly FCPA Campaign Finance Reports with the Morgan County Probate Judge. For districts located in both Morgan County and Limestone County, the FCPA reports now are required to be filed only in Morgan County

For all questions on Fair Campaign, contact the Morgan County Probate Office at (256) 351-4681 or (256)351-4675.

Additional information regarding the Statement of Economic Interests form is available at State of Alabama – Ethics Commission or contact the Alabama Ethics Commission at (334) 242-2997.

Additional FCPA information – including FCPA campaign advertising guidelines, reporting forms, and the FCPA Candidate Filing Guide – is available at Secretary of State or contact the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office/Election Division at (334) 242-7210 or 1-800-274-8683.