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Debate in Alabama over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Alabama in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Alabama

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Alabama.

  • Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) (Could a second wave of coronavirus trigger new stay-at-home orders? States can't agree.): 

    "We cannot sustain a delayed way of life as we search for a vaccine. There are many viruses we live with and incorporate necessary precautions into our daily lives. Having a life means having a livelihood, too." - "Politico," May 24, 2020.

  • Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) (ABC 3340): Governor Kay Ivey said the state would need to see a decline in COVID-19 cases across a two-week period before the state could begin to reopen. Ivey also said that social distancing would still need to be practiced when the state does begin to reopen.

    "Consistent with what we’ve been saying all along, the president made it clear that the return to ‘normal’ won’t be a quick or simple process. We will need to see declining cases – and stronger testing – over at least 14-days – to make certain we don’t see a return in the spike up of the infection. No good idea will be tossed aside, but even as we look at every way we can to reopen the economy, we’re going to need to continue to maintain social distancing and other health measures to ensure the virus doesn’t flare up again." - "Ivey: Return to 'normal' must be gradual," April 17, 2020.

  • Alabama Small Business Emergency Task Force (ABC 3340): The Alabama Small Business Emergency Task Force released a report on April 17, 2020, in which it recommended that Alabama immediately reopen retail stores, restaurant dining rooms, childcare facilities, and services such as hair salons, tattoo shops, and massage therapy businesses while maintaining social distancing guidelines. - "Small business task force recommends several Ala. industries reopen immediately," April 17, 2020.

  • Alabama Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth (R) (Twitter): "It’s time to open Alabama back up safely. Tomorrow will be 14 days of consecutive decline from the peak of April 9th of 339 cases. Some of these businesses should have never been shut down. We have to allow them to make a living while doing it safely." - "@willainsworthAL 4:27 PM · Apr 22, 2020 tweet," April 22, 2020.

  • Montgomery, Alabama, Mayor Steven Reed (D) (Alabama News Network): "Our message is to take the long term approach on this. We’re dealing with something that we’ve never seen before, which is a 50-state national disaster. It’s something that we have to make sure we are prioritizing… the health of our residents and the people who do business here versus the economy, versus those paychecks. We have to make sure that we are respecting those individuals rights to protest, but also… they have to respect the data and the science. That’s what we’re listening to, and I believe that’s what should guide our decisions." - "Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed on Fox News; Discusses Reopening Alabama’s Economy," April 18, 2020.


Debate over the reopening plan in Alabama

See also: Debate over reopening plans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the reopening plan in Alabama.

  • Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) (Could a second wave of coronavirus trigger new stay-at-home orders? States can't agree.): 

    "We cannot sustain a delayed way of life as we search for a vaccine. There are many viruses we live with and incorporate necessary precautions into our daily lives. Having a life means having a livelihood, too." - "Politico," May 24, 2020.

  • Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) (The Hill): Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) announced that Alabama would begin reopening the economy in phases beginning Thursday, April 30, 2020. said, “as of this week, we no longer believe our hospitals will see an overwhelming amount of ICU patients who need ventilators.”

    "While we have not seen a decrease in the amount of newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients, we have seen a stabilization — a leveling off, if you will, in the amount of cases, I look forward to easing back into our routines with caution. We know that what we are announcing today will please some and make others frustrated that we're not going further at this time but our job must be always to find the right balance." - "Alabama to partially reopen despite rising coronavirus cases," April 28, 2020.


Debate over prisons and inmates in Alabama

See also: Debate over prisons and inmates during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders regarding prisons and inmates in Alabama.

  • Alabamians for Fair Justice (Alabama for Fair Justice): Alabamians for Fair Justice called for the state of Alabama to release certain incarcerated individuals, including those who (1) have one year or less left in their sentence; (2) have served 20 consecutive years or more in prison for a non-capital offense, not involving a child, and not a sexual offense; (3) are eligible for parole; (4) were eligible for parole but were placed under deferral; (5) are serving a split sentence if the split sentence is 5 years or less; and (6) qualify for mandatory parole but have not been released.

    "Now is the time for our state leaders to choose another path, and follow the advice of experts and advocates by releasing people from its unhygienic, overcrowded prisons." - "AFJ calls for release of Alabama prisoners following news report that widespread infection and deaths are expected," April 6, 2020.

  • Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson (BuzzFeed News): Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson argued in opposition to releasing inmates and said his office would work to block inmates from being released.

    "For goodness sake, one guy had a pending murder case in a neighboring county." - "A Judge Ordered The Release Of Low-Level Prisoners Because Of The Coronavirus. People Were Absolutely Furious.," March 27, 2020.

  • Alabama Judge Ben Fuller of Autauga, Chilton, and Elmore counties (BuzzFeed News): Judge Ben Fuller issued an administrative order to release inmates in Autauga, Elmore and Chilton county jails who had bonds of $5,000 or less. The order was amended by Judge Bill Lewis to provide for a 5-day hold period for such inmates in order to process case reviews and objections filed by the state.

    "... In county jails, the density of the population creates a real hazard. ... This wasn't intended to be a mass release, I just wanted to do something to protect the safety of the jail staff, sheriff's deputies and the inmates." - "A Judge Ordered The Release Of Low-Level Prisoners Because Of The Coronavirus. People Were Absolutely Furious.," March 27, 2020.

  • Individuals commenting on Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson's Facebook post (BuzzFeed News): Individuals commenting on Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson's Facebook post about releasing inmates said, "When released, why not transport them to Fuller’s neighborhood," and "We violent crime victims are watching.....and believe me when I say Ben Fuller will be held responsible for his order. He is NOT a friend to crime victims." - "A Judge Ordered The Release Of Low-Level Prisoners Because Of The Coronavirus. People Were Absolutely Furious.," March 27, 2020.

  • Free Alabama Movement (Free Alabama Movement): "To continue to employ or incarcerate the above people while the deadly virus spreads through the system would effectively be sentencing too many to death. Moreover, a release of the said people would instantly reduce the ADOC population, thereby meeting the constitutional standard; in effect allowing our humanity to supersede all politics. With the Institute for Health and Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington predicting that Alabama will have the highest COVID 19 death rate in the U.S., the outcome for those of us left behind in these steel barriers, fences and cages is a foregone conclusion if we don’t act now." - "FREE ALABAMA MOVEMENT PRESS STATEMENT: WE ARE BEING LEFT TO DIE," April 6, 2020.

  • Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jefferson Dunn (The Hill): "The number one thing in my mind is safety, is trying our best to prevent the virus from getting into the facilities, and then mitigating the impact." - "Alabama prison system anticipates widespread coronavirus infections, internal document shows," April 5, 2020.


Debate over abortion in Alabama

See also: Debate over abortion during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders regarding abortion clinic operation amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama.

Alabama ordered the postponement of medical procedures unless necessary “to avoid serious harm from an underlying condition or disease, or necessary as part of a patient’s ongoing and active treatment.” Alabama abortion clinics filed a lawsuit after they said the Alabama attorney general's office did not make clear whether or not abortion clinics could remain open. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson issued a preliminary injunction allowing the clinics to remain open until arguments could be heard.

On April 16, 2020, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall appealed the injunction to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

  • Randall C. Marshall, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama (ABC 3340): "[The Alabama Attorney General] should be focused on protecting the health and safety of Alabamians, not using the pandemic as a way to limit access to abortion. During this crisis, it is critical that Alabamians can continue to access the abortions they need to protect their health. The government response to the pandemic must be grounded in public health, not politics, because there is no pause on a pregnancy." - "Alabama appeals abortion ruling during COVID-19 outbreak," April 16, 2020.

  • Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (Alabama Attorney General's Office): "In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris issued an emergency health order temporarily halting all dental, medical, or surgical procedures that are not necessary to treat emergency medical conditions or avoid serious harm to patients. This order covers all elective medical procedures, including abortions. The purposes of the order are to promote social distancing and ensure that scarce healthcare resources—including personal protective equipment for medical providers—are available for the fight against COVID-19. Abortion clinics responded by suing the State of Alabama claiming that the health order was an effective abortion ‘ban’ and seeking a special blanket exemption from the order. But the State health order does not single out abortions or treat them differently from any other procedure. It simply requires abortion providers to follow the same regulations that apply to everyone else." - "Press release: Attorney General Marshall Files Emergency Stay and Appeal of Preliminary Injunction of State Health Order Relating to Abortion Procedures," April 16, 2020.


Debate over school closures in Alabama

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Alabama.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Alabama

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Alabama.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over election policy in Alabama

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Alabama.

  • U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon (AP): U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon ruled on June 15, 2020, that the state cannot stop local officials from offering curbside voting and waived requirements for obtaining absentee ballots in Mobile, Jefferson, and Lee counties.

    "If the challenged election laws are not enjoined, the individual plaintiffs and similarly-situated voters could likely face a painful and difficult choice between exercising their fundamental right to vote and safeguarding their health, which could prevent them from casting a vote in upcoming elections." - "Federal judge says Alabama can’t forbid curbside voting," June 16, 2020.

  • AL.com reporter Kyle Whitmore (AL.com): AL.com reporter Kyle Whitmore argued that Alabama needed to reform its absentee voting process to make it easier for people to vote during the coronavirus pandemic.

    "When you vote by absentee, you must have the signatures of two other witnesses or have the ballot notarized. Not everyone has two family members in their home to witness their vote, and allowing strangers in the door is not a good idea. To vote by absentee you must submit a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID. Social distancing doesn’t work when you have to go to the FedEx store to vote. Also, the public copying machine in most small towns is at the local library, which isn’t likely to be open. Right now, 33 states permit some form of voting by mail or no-excuse absentee voting. Three states — Colorado, Washington State and Oregon — conduct their elections completely by mail. Alabama could join them." - "Whitmire: Corona-proof Alabama elections now," March 20, 2020.

  • Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill (R) (Alabama Political Reporter): Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill (R), who oversees Alabama elections, responded to Whitmire's article regarding elections and voting.

    "[AL.com reporter Kyle Whitmire] insists on creating hysteria when there is no need. ... Whitmire repeatedly attempted to sensationalize issues that are not applicable or relevant to the people of Alabama. Whitmire goes on to mention the ways in which other states, who have confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, have reacted to the spread of the virus. It is important to remember that Alabama’s elections laws, contrary to Whitmire’s assumptions, vary from those in other states because the authority to govern lies with the respective state. The Office of the Alabama Secretary of State will continue to operate under the parameters of the law, despite what other states across the country are doing or what Kyle Whitmire wants." - "Alabama Secretary of State issues response to Coronavirus preparation," March 12, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in Alabama

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Alabama)

Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Alabama.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

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Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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