A deceased Republican gubernatorial candidate received more than 3,000 votes in Tuesday's primary, according to the Alabama Secretary of State's office.

The late Michael McCallister garnered 3,326 votes, leaving him in last place among the five Republican candidates. The primary was won by incumbent governor Kay Ivey.

McCallister, a former corrections officer who qualified to run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination but never campaigned, was found dead in his Troy home on April 11. He was 69.

Alabama law prohibits changes to ballots within 76 days of a primary or general election.

Prior to the primary, Secretary of State John Merrill said any votes for McCallister would be tallied but not certified, making it impossible for him to win the party's nomination.

McCallister's ballot appearance isn't the first by a deceased candidate in Alabama.

In 2012, Alabama Republican Charles Beasley died while running for his old seat on the Bibb County Commission. Beasley's name appeared on the ballot and he went on to defeat his Democratic challenger, incumbent Commissioner Walter Sansing, with 52 percent of the vote.

Janice Canham was reelected mayor of the town of Jacksons' Gap in 2012, despite having passed away a month earlier.

Canham died in July ahead of the August election but defeated opponent Michael Crouch 128 votes to 66. The town council appointed the new mayor.