Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has postponed the runoff election between Jeff Sessions and Tommy Tuberville amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19, according to reports from the Montgomery Advertiser.

Sessions and Tuberville, both Republicans, are vying for a shot at unseating US Senator Doug Jones. Neither candidate earned enough votes in the primary election held on March 3 to secure the party's nomination and a runoff was scheduled for March 31st. Ivey's decision Wednesday morning will postpone the runoff until July 14th.

Conversations about postponing the election began last week as federal, state and local authorities urged people to self-isolate when possible, practice social distancing and avoid crowded places in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Secretary of State John Merrill, who oversees elections in Alabama, asked Attorney General Steve Marshall if Ivey had the legal authority to postpone an election, and Marshall published an opinion Tuesday night that during a state of emergency, she did.

 

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