Sherman Norfleet has filed a formal contest of the Uniontown District 2 runoff, seeking to overturn Dudley Long’s one-vote victory and asking a judge to let him examine the ballots cast in the Sept. 23 election.
Norfleet’s filings, stamped Oct. 6 by the Perry County Circuit Clerk, argue the race was marred by “misconduct on the part of the municipal governing body,” the rejection of legal votes, the counting of illegal votes, and “other misconduct calculated to prevent a fair election.” In the notice of contest, Norfleet specifically alleges that ballots were printed and distributed in District 2 without his name listed as a candidate, and he asks that the city’s election manager be prohibited from filing a certificate of election for Long while the case is pending.
The runoff was certified Sept. 30 following a canvass by the Uniontown City Council. Provisional ballots added one vote to each candidate, and the final certified total stood at Long 111, Norfleet 110. Margins that narrow are often the subject of post-election challenges in Alabama because a handful of ballots ruled out, or brought back in, can change the outcome. Contests do not always accuse officials of wrongdoing, but Norfleet’s filing does.
Along with the contest, Norfleet filed a request for production seeking all absentee ballots “printed, mailed, returned or cast” in the District 2 runoff. Court receipts show he paid the required fees and posted $500 security for costs on Oct. 6. A summons issued that day directs Uniontown Election Manager Alfreda Washington to respond within 30 days.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway Jr. In a separate order entered last week, the court authorized Norfleet to inspect the ballots under Alabama’s election- contest statutes, with arrangements to be made through municipal officials. The court also set a status hearing for Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 1:30 p.m. in Perry County Circuit Court.
Norfleet is represented by attorney Robert H. Turner Sr. of Marion. The court has not ruled on the merits of Norfleet’s allegations. The case now moves into evidence-gathering and ballot inspection before the November status date.
