Lower Turnout Forecast for Alabama’s Special Election

Alabama’s top election official told NBC News he is lowering his prediction for turnout in Alabama’s December 12 special election, a potential measure of how sexual misconduct allegations have roiled the Senate race between Roy Moore (R) and Doug Jones (D).

“Secretary of State John Merrill also said his office has just sent local election officials more detailed guidance for processing write-in votes, a result he said of a higher volume of inquiries than his office normally receives from voters across the state.”

First Read: “While it’s impossible to predict what will happen in the Moore-vs.-Jones race — it’s an election in December, in Alabama and with the Republican nominee facing terrible accusations — it’s fair to say that a lower turnout and more write-in votes probably help Jones.”