Alabama law restricts the removal of GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore from the ballot this close to the Dec. 12 election, particularly with some ballots already cast, but Republicans are looking into moving the special election back to early 2018, The New York Times reported Friday.
Moore has been accused of sexual misconduct with an underage female 38 years ago, and denied the allegations Friday as "politically motivated," although not denying he has dated teenagers.
A group of Republicans have pulled their endorsement of Moore, despite the denials.
The potential move of the Alabama special election from Dec. 12 to January 2018 might be something Republicans lobby for with Gov. Kay Ivey, R-Ala., although it is unclear if she has that power, the Times reported.
Gov. Ivey had already moved the special election after then-Gov. Robert Bentley, R-Ala., was himself forced to resign amid a sex scandal, and would consider moving it again, if allowed and backed by the White House, according to the Times.
State Secretary John Merrill, R-Alabama, told The Hill a change is unlikely, considering some have already voted by absentee ballot.
"It's almost like saying: Let's play a football game with four quarters, but after the third quarter, let's suspend," Merrill told the Hill on Friday. "I think the scenario you are introducing for me to comment on is highly improbable for this reason: We have people who have already voted in this election. Military servicemen and women have voted, absentee voters have already voted. There are hundreds of people who have expressed their preference on the race."
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