MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday moved a special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions to 2017, according to a release from her office.

Former Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Attorney General Luther Strange to the post on Feb. 9. Bentley then decided not to hold a special election but to wait until the November 2018 general election to decide who would be elected to the seat.

“I promised to steady our ship of state. This means following the law, which clearly states the people should vote for a replacement U.S. Senator as soon as possible,” Ivey said. “The new U.S. Senate special election dates this year are a victory for the rule of law.”

The seat was vacated when President Donald Trump appointed Sessions to U.S. Attorney General.

The new schedule sets the special election primary on Aug. 15, primary runoff on Sept. 26, and the general election on Dec. 12, almost a year ahead of the previously schedule election date.

“This is not a hastily-made decision. I consulted legal counsel, the finance director, Speaker McCutcheon, Senate President Del Marsh, and both budget chairmen since the cost to the General Fund could be great,” Ivey said. “However, following the law trumps the expense of a special election.”