On August 8, Alabama officials said two special legislative primaries will be held on October 8, to fill the vacant State House seats in the 74th district (Montgomery) and 104th district (Mobile). Astonishingly, the deadline for independent candidates and newly-qualifying parties for these special elections will be August 20. The law requires petitions of 3% of the last gubernatorial vote.

The special elections themselves will not be until December 3 (if no run-off primary is needed) or not until January 14, 2014 (if run-off primaries will be needed, which is likely). See this story. Alabama petition deadlines for independent and minor party candidates are usually the same day as the primary, so the schedule seems not only contrary to the statutory law, but contrary to legal precedents that require states to either reduce the number of signatures in special elections (because there is less time to collect the signatures) or give more time.

The Constitution Party intends to enter the 104th district race, and is very likely to sue to overturn the ballot access requirements for these two special elections.