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Minimum Qualifications for Public Office
|
Office
|
Minimum Age
|
State Resident
|
US Citizen
|
Registered Voter
1
|
Term of Office
|
Number of Terms
|
| US Senate
2 |
30 |
1 day |
9 years |
yes |
6 |
no limit |
| US House of
Representatives 3 |
25 |
1 day |
7 years |
yes |
2 |
no limit |
| Governor
4, 6 |
30 |
7 years |
10 years |
yes |
4 |
2 |
| Lt. Governor
4, 6 |
30 |
7 years |
10 years |
yes |
4 |
2 |
| Secretary of State
5,6 |
25 |
5 years |
7 years |
yes |
4 |
2 |
| Attorney General
5,6 |
25 |
5 years |
7 years |
yes |
4 |
2 |
| State Auditor
5,6 |
25 |
5 years |
7 years |
yes |
4 |
2 |
| State Treasurer
5,6 |
25 |
5 years |
7 years |
yes |
4 |
2 |
| Commissioner of
Agriculture and Industry 5,6
|
25 |
5 years |
7 years |
yes |
4 |
2 |
| Public Service
Commission 7, 8 |
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
4 |
no limit |
| Supreme
Court Justice
7, 9, 26 |
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
6 |
no limit |
| Must be licensed to
practice law in Alabama. No one may be elected or appointed to a
judicial office after reaching the age of 70. Must have been licensed
by the Alabama State Bar Association a combined total of 10 years or more,
or by any other state bar association for a combined total of 10 years
or more, prior to beginning a term of office or appointment to serve a
vacant term of office. |
| Court of
Criminal Appeals 7, 9, 27 |
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
6 |
no limit |
|
Must be licensed to
practice law in Alabama. No one may be elected or appointed to a
judicial office after reaching the age of 70. Must have been licensed
by the Alabama State Bar Association a combined total of 10 years or more,
or by any other state bar association for a combined total of 10 years
or more, prior to beginning a term of office or appointment to serve a
vacant term of office. |
| Court of
Civil Appeals 7, 9, 27 |
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
6 |
no limit |
| Must be licensed to
practice law in Alabama. No one may be elected or appointed to a
judicial office after reaching the age of 70. Must have been licensed
by the Alabama State Bar Association a combined total of 10 years or more,
or by any other state bar association for a combined total of 10 years
or more, prior to beginning a term of office or appointment to serve a
vacant term of office. |
| State Board of
Education 7,9 |
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
4 |
no limit |
| State
Senate 7, 11 |
25 |
3 years |
1 day |
yes |
4 |
no limit |
| Must be a resident of the
district for one year prior to the election. |
| State House
of Representatives 7, 11
|
21 |
3 years |
1 day |
yes |
4 |
no limit |
| Must be a resident of the
district for one year prior to the election. |
| Circuit
Judge 7, 9, 12, 28 |
18 |
1 year |
1 day |
yes |
6 |
no limit |
| Must be licensed to
practice law in Alabama. Must have resided in the circuit in which
candidate seeks to serve for one year prior to election. No one may
be elected or appointed to a judicial office after reaching the age of
70. Must have been licensed by the Alabama State Bar Association a
combined total of 5 years or more, or by any other state bar association
for a combined total of 5 years or more, prior to beginning a term
of office or appointment to serve a vacant term of office. |
| District
Judge 7, 9, 13, 29 |
18 |
1 year |
1 day |
yes |
6 |
no limit |
|
Must be licensed to
practice law in Alabama. Must have resided in the circuit in which
candidate seeks to serve for one year prior to election. No one may
be elected or appointed to a judicial office after reaching the age of
70. Must have been licensed by the Alabama State Bar Association a combined
total of 3 years or more, or by any other state bar association for a
combined total of 3 years or more, prior to beginning a term of office
or appointment to serve a vacant term of office. |
| District
Attorney 7, 14 |
18 |
1 year |
1 day |
yes |
6 |
no limit |
| Must be licensed to
practice law in Alabama. Must have resided in the district which
candidate seeks to represent for one year prior to election. |
| Probate
Judge 7, 9, 15 |
18 |
1 year |
1 day |
yes |
6 |
no limit |
| Must have resided in the
district which candidate seeks to represent for one year prior to
election. No one may be elected or appointed to a judicial office after
reaching the age of 70. |
| Circuit Clerk
7, 16 |
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
6 |
no limit |
| Sheriff
7, 17 |
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
4 |
no limit |
| Coroner
7, 18, 25 |
25 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
4 |
no limit |
| County Superintendent of
Education 7,19 |
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
varies |
varies |
| See §16-9-2
for qualifications. |
| County
Board of Education 7, 20
|
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
6 years |
no limit |
| Must be a resident of the
county which the candidate seeks to represent one year prior to
election. |
| County
Commission 7, 21 |
18 |
1 day |
1 day |
yes |
4 & 6 |
no limit |
|
Must be a resident of the county for at least one year
prior to the date of taking office. If representing a specific district,
must be a resident of the district for at least one year prior to the date of taking office. |
| Mayor
7, 22 |
18 |
90 days |
1 day |
yes |
4 |
no limit |
| Must be a resident of the
city for 90 days prior to election. |
| City
Council 7, 23 |
18 |
90 days |
1 day |
yes |
4 |
no limit |
| Must be a resident of the
city or district for 90 days prior to election. |
| City
Commission 7, 23, 24 |
19 |
90 days |
1 day |
yes |
4 |
no limit |
| Must be a resident of the
city for 90 days prior to election. |
Footnotes
1) All candidates
participating in party primary elections must be a registered voter (§17-13-6)
2) U.S. Constitution, Art. 1, Sec. 3
3) U.S. Constitution, Art. 1, Sec. 2
4) Constitution of Alabama of 1901, Art. V, Sec. 117
5) Constitution of Alabama of 1901, Art. V, Sec. 132
6) Constitution of Alabama of 1901, Amendment No. 282
7) §17-3-30, §36-2-1
8) §37-1-3
9) Constitution of Alabama of 1901, Amendment No. 328, Sec 6.07, 6.15, 6.16
10) §16-3-1, §16-3-3
11) Constitution of Alabama of 1901, Art. IV, Sec. 47
12) §12-17-22
13) §12-17-63, §12-17-64
14) §12-17-180, §12-17-183
15) §12-13-30, §12-13-31
16) Constitution of Alabama of 1901, Amendment No. 328, Sec. 6.20
17) Constitution of Alabama of 1901, Amendment No. 35
18) §11-5-1
19) §16-9-1, §16-9-2
20) §16-8-1, §16-8-2
21) §11-3-1, §36-3-4
22) §11-43-1, §11-43-2, §11-46-25
23) §11-43-63, §11-46-25
24) §11-44-38
25) §11-5-33
26) §12-2-1 (b) as amended by Act 2009-562
27) §12-3-1 as amended by Act 2009-562
28) §12-11-1 as amended by Act 2009-562
29) §12-12-1 as amended by Act 2009-562
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