Municipal Election Information for Candidates

Candidate Information:

Please check this site as information will be updated throughout the year.

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 256-341-4500 ext. 6 or electionquestions@decatur-al.gov.

Qualifying Dates for the 2025 Municipal Election:
June 10-24, 2025
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
*We will be closed Thursday, June 19, 2025 in observance of Juneteenth.

Election Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Run-Off Date if required: Tuesday, September 23, 2025

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 Ethics 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.

Mayor and City Council Candidates must be 18 years of age, a US Citizen, and registered voter of the municipality at the time of qualification.

School Board Candidates must be 21 years of age, a US Citizen, and registered voter of the municipality at the time of qualification.

Candidates for the office of Mayor must also have been a resident of the municipality for at least 90 consecutive days prior to election.

City Council candidates must have been a resident of the municipal district they seek to serve for at least 90 consecutive days prior to election.

School Board Candidates must have been a resident of the municipal district they seek to serve for at least 90 consecutive days prior to qualification deadline.

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
2. Received contributions or made expenditures for an election campaign in excess of $1,000.00. Legislative FCPA Act 2021-314

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 Secretary of State’s Office .

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) 242-7200.