If you are facing a disputed election outcome in Alabama, the consequences of inaction can be severe and permanent. Election contests involve strict deadlines, specific statutory grounds, and procedural requirements that most general practice attorneys rarely encounter. Whether you are a candidate challenging results or a declared winner defending your seat, having a lawyer who understands Alabama election contest law is not optional.
Our Alabama election contest lawyer at Bachus, Brom & Taylor, LLC has represented clients in contested elections at the state, county, and municipal levels for more than two decades. We understand what’s at stake when an election result is in question, and we are prepared to act quickly on your behalf. Contact our firm to discuss how we can help protect your rights in a contested Alabama election.
Not many Alabama law firms can point to attorneys who have actually served in elected office, worked inside state government, and practiced election law simultaneously. Ours can.
Steven M. Brom handles election law, campaign finance, and ethics advising as core practice areas. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Georgia in 1998 and his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2001. He is admitted to the Alabama State Bar, the Georgia State Bar, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Alabama, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Attorney Brom also practices in areas of administrative law and litigation, local government and municipal law, and public policy and legislative affairs. That range of experience matters in election contest cases, where administrative procedure and political law frequently overlap.
Bryan M. Taylor brings additional depth in political law and civil litigation. A former Alabama State Senator who held senior positions in three governors’ administrations, Bryan earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 2001. He also served as an Army JAG lawyer in the Alabama National Guard, earning the Bronze Star Medal and the American Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award. Bryan’s firsthand knowledge of Alabama’s legislative and judicial processes makes him a formidable advocate in election disputes.
Our firm has served Alabama clients for over 20 years, and our attorneys have helped clients recover millions of dollars across a wide range of legal matters. We bring that same level of commitment to every election contest we handle.
Election contest cases in Alabama are governed by a specific body of law that most attorneys never touch. Our firm works within these statutes regularly and understands the procedural nuances that can make or break a contest. We handle matters involving regulatory compliance across state, county, and municipal election frameworks.
An election contest attorney in Alabama needs to move fast. Deadlines are measured in days, not weeks. Evidence must be gathered, preserved, and presented according to strict rules. We approach every contested election with a clear strategy, thorough preparation, and the willingness to litigate when necessary. Whether the dispute can be resolved through the canvassing process or requires a full trial, we are ready.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Bryan Taylor is as fine of a lawyer the state has to offer. Bryan represented my family in a matter that was basically hopeless regarding the chance to prevail in a legal matter. Bryan defied the odds and prevailed! If you need sound, moral legal representation, Bryan Taylor and this law firm is who you need representing you and yours.” – Robert Griffin
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Election contests arise in many different contexts across Alabama’s political landscape. Our firm represents candidates, officeholders, political parties, and concerned citizens in disputes ranging from primary challenges to municipal runoff elections. Here are some of the areas where we regularly provide representation:
Alabama election law imposes strict procedural requirements on anyone who wants to contest an election result. Missing a single deadline or failing to follow the correct procedure can end a contest before it begins.
Under Alabama Code § 17-16-47, a contestant must file a written statement setting forth the grounds of the contest. The grounds recognized under § 17-16-40 include fraud or corruption by election officials, the ineligibility of the declared winner, illegal votes that changed the outcome, errors in vote counting, bribery or intimidation that prevented a free exercise of the franchise, and recount results naming a different winner.
Timing is critical. Under § 17-16-49, an election contest must be commenced within 20 days after the result is declared. For contests involving legislators, the statement must be filed with the presiding officer of the relevant legislative chamber under § 17-16-50. Contests of circuit or district court judges follow the procedures in § 17-16-54, which require filing in a specific court.
The Alabama Secretary of State oversees election administration and provides resources on election law, but the Secretary’s office does not adjudicate contests. That function belongs to the courts or, in the case of legislative seats, to the legislature itself.
Understanding these requirements matters because election contest litigation is unforgiving. There is little room for procedural error, and courts in Alabama have dismissed contests for technical deficiencies in the contestant’s statement or failure to post required security for costs.
The most common ground for an election contest in Alabama is fraud or misconduct by election officials. But proving it requires specific evidence. You cannot simply allege that something went wrong. Under § 17-16-40, you must identify the particular misconduct, the individuals involved, and how it affected the outcome. Generalized complaints about the election process, without concrete proof, will not survive a motion to dismiss.
Evidence preservation is the first thing an election contest lawyer must address. Ballots, poll lists, voting machine data, and registration records are all potential sources of evidence. Under § 17-16-45, either party may petition the court for examination of ballots and voting equipment. Failure to preserve this evidence, or a delay in requesting access, can be fatal to a case. Our attorneys move immediately to secure critical evidence when a contest appears likely.
Alabama allows testimony from individual voters about their qualifications under § 17-16-42, but a voter cannot be compelled to reveal how they voted. This creates strategic considerations in building a case. We work with witnesses to develop testimony that supports the contest without running afoul of voter privacy protections. Successfully handling business litigation has given our firm significant trial preparation experience that translates directly to election contest proceedings.
Where you file an election contest depends entirely on which office is being contested. Contests for county officers go to the circuit court. Contests for state legislators go before the relevant legislative chamber. Contests for judicial seats follow yet another path. Filing in the wrong forum is a jurisdictional defect that cannot be cured after the deadline passes.
One of the statutory grounds under § 17-16-40 allows a contest when illegal votes were cast for the declared winner in sufficient numbers to change the result. Proving this requires more than simply identifying ineligible voters. You must show that those voters actually cast ballots for the contestee and that removing those votes would change the outcome. This is a demanding evidentiary standard, and it requires careful analysis of voter rolls, registration data, and contractual obligations associated with election processes.
If a court finds that the contest has merit, the remedy depends on the nature and extent of the proven irregularities. Under § 17-16-41, an election will not be annulled for minor procedural defects that did not affect the outcome. But when fraud, corruption, or illegal voting changed the result, the court can declare the contestant the winner or order a new election entirely.
If you believe an Alabama election result was affected by fraud, misconduct, or procedural errors, time is not on your side. The window to file an election contest is narrow, and the procedural requirements are strict.
Our firm has the background and resources to handle contested elections throughout Alabama. We can evaluate your situation, advise you on the strength of a potential contest, and represent you through every stage of the process. Contact us to schedule a consultation with an attorney who handles election law matters in Alabama.
