Birmingham Elections: Winners, Runoffs and What is Next

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The race for Birmingham mayor is going to a runoff, as Randall Woodfin (41 percent) slightly edged out incumbent William Bell (37 percent), but did not get the needed 50 percent of the vote to unseat the mayor. The runoff is set for Oct. 3. Two of the city council seats will also head to runoffs, it appears. Council president Johnathan Austin and challenger Darrell O'Quinn were swapping the lead the entire evening, but neither ended up with the majority. And incumbent in District 2, Kim Rafferty, and challenger Hunter Williams will be in a runoff as well.

Early reports from polling stations revealed low numbers, with only a few of the city's polling stations reporting more than 500 voters total before 5:00 p,m. Some of the poll volunteers said they never saw lines or waits, and that voter turnout was noticeably lower than in 2013. One polling location that has been consistently busy today is Legion Field, where incumbent mayor William Bell votes. This likely bodes well for Bell, as more than 1,000 people had already voted at Legion Field by late afternoon.

Although the day progressed without major incidents, some of the same issues regarding "inactive voters" occurred at various polling locations, a problem seen also in last week's Senate elections. Former US Attorney Joyce White Vance said on social media that she sees this as a miscommunication from the Secretary of State's office. "The Secy of State must diagnose the issues & explain it to voters," Vance wrote on her Twitter page.

This year's city council elections bring an extra level of scrutiny, as the council voted last year to give itself a pay raise (under some controversial circumstances) beginning with the 2017 elected council, so it will be interesting to see how that plays into who voters will support.

The results:

Mayor:

Runoff Oct 3 between Randall Woodfin and William Bell

Council, District 1:

Winner, Lashunda Scales

Council, District 2:

Runoff Oct 3 between Kim Rafferty and Hunter Williams

Council, District 3:

Winner, Valerie Abbott

Council, District 4:

Winner, William Parker

Council, District 5:

Runoff Oct. 3 between Johnathan Austin and Darrell O'Quinn

Council, District 6:

Winner, Sheila Tyson

Council, District 7:

Winner, Jay Roberson

Council, District 8:

Winner, Steven Hoyt

Council, District 9:

Runoff Oct. 3 between Roderick Royal and John Hilliard