Gov. Kay Ivey has announced the dates for a special election for a north Alabama district in the Alabama House of Representatives, a seat vacated by the election of former Rep. Wes Kitchens to the state Senate earlier this month.

District 27 includes Arab, Guntersville, Union Grove, and Grant.

The deadline for qualifying with the Democratic and Republican parties is Jan. 30 at 5 p.m. The deadline for independent and minor party candidates is April 2 at 5 p.m.

Ivey scheduled the special primary election for April 2, with a runoff, if necessary, on April 30.

The special general election will be July 16.