The Alabama Supreme Court has overturned a lower court ruling involving the disputed 2022 Conecuh County sheriff's election, concluding that the race ended in a tie rather than a victory for Sheriff Randy Brock. The decision follows an appeal by Republican candidate Mike Blackmon, who challenged the election results after his case was dismissed by the Conecuh County Circuit Court.
At the center of the dispute were two ballots that had initially been rejected by voting machines but were later counted during a recount by the county canvassing board. The Supreme Court determined those ballots should not have been counted because the voters failed to follow the ballot instructions, instead marking the party symbols rather than filling in the designated ovals. With those ballots excluded, the final certified total leaves both candidates tied at 2,226 votes.
The Supreme Court has sent the case back to the Conecuh County Circuit Court for further proceedings. Following the ruling, attorneys representing Blackmon said the decision underscores the importance of following election procedures and maintaining election integrity. Under the Court's ruling, the tied election leaves a vacancy in the office that must be addressed under Alabama law. CLICK HERE to read the full article and learn more about the Court's decision.
