By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

This year’s Republican runoff election for an Alabama United States Senate candidate will be a little different than those Alabama voters have seen in previous years.

A new law enacted in May prohibits voters who cast ballots in the initial primary from voting in the runoff election of the other party.

Renee Powers, vice chair of the Republican party for Congressional District 6, of Clanton said this means those who voted in the Democratic primary cannot vote in the Republican runoff election.

“When people show up to vote, if they voted in the Democrat primary, they cannot vote in the runoff,” Powers said. “If they didn’t vote at all they can vote in the runoff.”

In previous years, the Alabama Democratic Party had a rule restricts any runoff elections to Democrat voters. The Republican Party did not have such a rule.

Powers said in past years some Democrats are thought to have voted in Republican runoff elections to vote for a candidate better for their interests.

Runoff elections often occur in Alabama when there are a large number of candidates in one particular primary. The variety of choices mean a candidate does not reach the needed 50 percent of the vote plus one vote in order to proceed to the General Election.

The runoff election has been scheduled for Sept. 26 and will be between current Senator Luther Strange and Roy Moore.

Registered voters can find their polling place at https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/VoterView/PollingPlaceSearch.do by entering their county, last name and birthday.

A debate for the two candidates is being planned for Sept. 10 in Shelby County.