Alabama State Auditor
Alabama State Auditor | |
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General information | |
Office Type: | Partisan |
Office website: | Official Link |
Compensation: | $93,606 |
2025 FY Budget: | $1,245,407 |
Term limits: | 2 terms |
Structure | |
Length of term: | 4 years |
Authority: | Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 112 |
Selection Method: | Elected |
Current Officeholder(s) | |
Alabama Auditor Andrew Sorrell | |
Elections | |
Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
Other Alabama Executive Offices | |
Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General •Treasurer •Auditor •Superintendent of Education •Agriculture Commissioner •Insurance Commissioner •Natural Resources Commissioner •Labor Commissioner •Public Service Commission |
TheAlabama State Auditor is a state executive position in the Alabama government. The auditor is responsible for making a report to the governor of "receipts and disbursement of every character, all claims audited and paid out, and all taxed and revenues collected."[1] The office also tracks all state non-consumable property worth $500 or more and serves on a number of state finance committees.
Current officeholder
The current Alabama Auditor isAndrew Sorrell (R). Sorrell assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The state auditor's authority derives fromArticle V, Section 112 of theAlabama Constitution.
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 112
The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, commissioner of agriculture and industries, and a sheriff for each county. |
Qualifications
Qualifications for the office of state auditor are described inArticle V, Section 132 of thestate Constitution. Candidates for the office must have been a citizen of the United States for seven years, a resident of Alabama for five years and at least 25 years of age.
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 132
No person shall be eligible to the office of attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, or commissioner of agriculture and industries unless he shall have been a citizen of the United States at least seven years, and shall have resided in this state at least five years next preceding his election, and shall be at least twenty-five years old when elected. |
Elections

PerSection 114 of thestate constitution, Alabama elects its auditors during federal midterm election years (e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030).Section 116 sets the auditor's inauguration for the first Monday after the second Tuesday in the January following an election.
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 114
The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, and commissioner of agriculture and industries shall be elected by the qualified electors of the state at the same time and places appointed for the election of members of the legislature in the year nineteen hundred and two, and in every fourth year thereafter. |
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 116
The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, commissioner of agriculture and industries, elected after the ratification of this Constitution, shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years from the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January next succeeding their election, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. |
Term limits
Per Amendment 282 to Article V, Section 116 of the Alabama Constitution, auditors are limited to two terms in office.[2]
2022
- See also:Alabama Auditor election, 2022
General election
General election for Alabama Auditor
Andrew Sorrell defeatedLeigh LaChine in the general election for Alabama Auditor on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Andrew Sorrell (R) ![]() | 84.4 | 949,871 |
![]() | Leigh LaChine (L) ![]() | 14.8 | 166,781 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 8,544 |
There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,125,196 | |||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Alabama Auditor
Andrew Sorrell defeatedStan Cooke in the Republican primary runoff for Alabama Auditor on June 21, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Andrew Sorrell ![]() | 57.5 | 205,257 |
Stan Cooke | 42.5 | 152,006 |
There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 357,263 | |||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alabama Auditor
Andrew Sorrell andStan Cooke advanced to a runoff. They defeatedRusty Glover in the Republican primary for Alabama Auditor on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Andrew Sorrell ![]() | 39.5 | 212,223 |
✔ | Stan Cooke | 32.8 | 176,352 | |
Rusty Glover | 27.7 | 149,229 |
There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 537,804 | |||
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2018
- See also:Alabama Auditor election, 2018
General election
General election for Alabama Auditor
IncumbentJim Zeigler defeatedMiranda Joseph in the general election for Alabama Auditor on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Jim Zeigler (R) | 60.4 | 1,018,466 |
![]() | Miranda Joseph (D) | 39.5 | 665,679 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 1,362 |
Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,685,507 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Alabama Auditor
Miranda Joseph advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama Auditor on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
✔ | ![]() | Miranda Joseph |
There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alabama Auditor
IncumbentJim Zeigler defeatedStan Cooke andElliott Lipinsky in the Republican primary for Alabama Auditor on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Jim Zeigler | 55.6 | 262,153 |
Stan Cooke | 32.6 | 153,578 | ||
![]() | Elliott Lipinsky | 11.8 | 55,624 |
Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. | Total votes: 471,355 | |||
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2014
Auditor of Alabama, 2014 | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() | 62.9% | 716,122 | |
Democratic | Miranda Joseph | 37% | 420,843 | |
Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.1% | 1,010 | |
Total Votes | 1,137,975 | |||
Election results viaAlabama Secretary of State |
Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Alabama State Auditor, click [show] to expand the section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2010 On November 2, 2010, Samantha Shaw won re-election to the office of Alabama State Auditor. She defeated Miranda Joseph (D) and a write-in challenger in the general election.
2006 On November 7, 2006, Samantha Shaw won election to the office of Alabama State Auditor. She defeated Janie Clarke (D) and a write-in challenger in the general election.
2002 On November 5, 2002, Beth Chapman won election to the office of Alabama State Auditor. He defeated Carolyn Gibson (R), Franklin Reeves (Lib) and various write-in challengers in the general election.
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Vacancies
Article V, Section 136 of the Alabama Constitution requires thegovernor to appoint a replacement if the office of state auditor becomes vacant or if the incumbent "shall become of unsound mind." The replacement serves until the next scheduled election.[3]
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 136
Should the office of attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, or commissioner of agriculture and industries become vacant from any cause, the governor shall fill such vacancy until the disability is removed or a successor elected and qualified. In case any of said officers shall become of unsound mind, such unsoundness shall be ascertained by the supreme court upon the suggestion of the governor. |
Duties
The Alabama Constitution requires the state auditor to make a report to the governor every year "showing the receipts and disbursements of every character, all claims audited and paid out, by items, and all taxes and revenues collected and paid into the treasury, and the sources thereof."[4] Additionally, the auditor performs "post audits of the accounts and records of the Treasurer and ... of the Department of Finance."[1]
The auditor also serves as a member on the following state boards[1]:
- State Board of Adjustment
- State Board of Appointments for Board of Registrars
- State Board of Compromise
- Alabama Education Authority
- Penny Trust Fund
In addition, the auditor's office is responsible for tracking all non-consumable state property worth $500 or more and performs an audit of those items every two years.[1]
Divisions
As of January 5, 2021, divisions within the State Auditor's Office included:[5]
- Administrative Division
- Property Division
State budget
- See also:Alabama state budget and finances
The budget for the Alabama State Auditor in Fiscal Year 2025 was $1,245,407.[6]
Compensation
The auditor's salary is fixed by law.Alabama Constitution, Article V, Section 118 of thestate Constitution requires that changes in compensation take effect in the term after they were passed.
Alabama Constitution, Article V, Section 118
The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, and commissioner of agriculture and industries, shall receive compensation to be fixed by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which they shall have been elected, and shall, except the lieutenant governor, reside at the state capital during the time they continue in office, except during epidemics. |
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $93,606, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $88,405, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the auditor salary was $88,405, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the auditor received a salary of $87,673 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the auditor received a salary of $85,248 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the auditor received a salary of $85,248 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the auditor received a salary of $85,248 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the auditor received a salary of $85,248, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the auditor received a salary $85,248, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the state auditor's salary remained at$85,248, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the state auditor's salary was$85,248, according to theCouncil of State Governments.
Historical officeholders
There have been 41 Alabama Auditors since 1819. Of the 41 officeholders, five were Republican, 22 were Democrat, and one was a Whig.[17]
List of Former Officeholders from 1869-Present | |||||
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# | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
1 | Samuel Pickens | 1819-1829 | NA | ||
2 | George W. Crabb | 1829-1836 | Whig | ||
3 | Jefferson C. Van Dyke | 1836-1848 | NA | ||
4 | Joel Riggs | 1848-1855 | NA | ||
5 | William J. Greene | 1855-1865 | NA | ||
6 | Malcolm A. Chisholm | 1865-1868 | NA | ||
7 | Robert M. Reynolds | 1869-1872 | NA | ||
8 | Robert T. Smith | 1872-1876 | NA | ||
9 | Willis Brewer | 1876-1880 | ![]() | ||
10 | J. Malcolm Carmichael | 1880-1884 | NA | ||
11 | Malcolm C. Burke | 1884-1888 | NA | ||
12 | Cyrus D. Hogue | 1888-1892 | NA | ||
13 | John Purifoy | 1892-1896 | NA | ||
14 | Walter S. White | 1896-1900 | NA | ||
15 | Thomas L. Sowell | 1900-1905 | ![]() | ||
16 | J. Malcolm Carmichael | 1905-1907 | NA | ||
17 | William W. Brandon | 1907-1911 | ![]() | ||
18 | C. Brooks Smith | 1911-1915 | ![]() | ||
19 | Miles C. Allgood | 1915-1919 | ![]() | ||
20 | Henry F. Lee | 1919-1923 | ![]() | ||
21 | William B. Allgood | 1923-1927 | ![]() | ||
22 | Sidney H. Blan | 1927-1931 | ![]() | ||
23 | John M. Brandon | 1931-1935 | ![]() | ||
24 | Charles E. McCall | 1935-1939 | ![]() | ||
25 | David H. Turner | 1939-1943 | ![]() | ||
26 | John M. Brandon | 1943-1947 | ![]() | ||
27 | Daniel H. Thomas, Sr. | 1947-1951 | ![]() | ||
28 | John M. Brandon | 1951-1955 | ![]() | ||
29 | Agnes Baggett | 1955-1959 | ![]() | ||
30 | Mary Texas Hurt Garner | 1959-1963 | ![]() | ||
31 | Bettye Jean (Haynes) Frink | 1963-1967 | ![]() | ||
32 | Melba Till Allen | 1967-1969 | ![]() | ||
33 | Betty Jean (Haynes) Frink | 1975-1983 | ![]() | ||
34 | Jan Cook | 1983-1991 | ![]() | ||
35 | Terry Ellis | 1991-1995 | ![]() | ||
36 | Pat Duncan | 1995-1999 | ![]() | ||
37 | Susan Parker | 1999-2003 | ![]() | ||
38 | Beth Chapman | 2003-2007 | ![]() | ||
39 | Samantha Shaw | 2007-2015 | ![]() | ||
40 | Jim Zeigler | 2015-2023 | ![]() | ||
41 | Andrew Sorrell | 2023-present | ![]() |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsAlabama State Auditor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Physical address:
State Capitol
Room S-101
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: (334) 242-7010
Fax: (334) 242-7650
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.11.21.3Alabama State Auditor, "About the Office," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑Constitution of Alabama, "Amendment 282 to Section 116," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑Constitution of Alabama, "Article V, Section 136," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑Constitution of Alabama, "Article V, Section 137," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑Alabama State Auditor, "Contact," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑Alabama Department of Finance, "Act 2024-355," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑Alabama Department of Archives and History, "Alabama Auditors," accessed July 25, 2013
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