Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill Archives • Page 4 of 5 • Alabama Political Reporter

Federal appeals court rules against Alabama in COVID-19 voting case

Judges on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals turned down the state of Alabama’s appeal to the court over a federal judge’s ruling lifting a statewide ban on curbside voting and waiving certain absentee ballot requirements for voters in at least Jefferson, Mobile, and Lee Counties for the July 14 runoff. U.S. Circuit judges Jill … Continued

June 25, 2020

UAB expert warns court in elections suit of possible COVID-19 spike in fall

A renowned Birmingham infectious disease physician believes Alabama needs to take precautions as elections near, and warned of a likely spike in COVID-19 cases in the fall. Dr. Michael Saag, a professor and associate dean at UAB’s School of Medicine and a leading HIV/Aid researcher and expert on infectious diseases, wrote to the Circuit Court … Continued

June 18, 2020

States must act to secure safe elections amid COVID-19 crisis, report finds

The spread of COVID-19 continues filling up intensive care beds and breaking records nearly daily, and as elections in Alabama near, the need to protect the state’s voting system is even more critical, according to a recent study. The Brennan Center for Justice, a law and public policy institute at the New York University Law … Continued

June 17, 2020

Federal judge waives some Alabama voting requirements amid pandemic

A federal judge on Monday lifted a statewide ban on curbside voting and waived certain absentee ballot requirements for voters in at least Jefferson, Mobile, and Lee Counties. U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon, in his opinion Monday, approved, in part, a preliminary injunction filed by the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the … Continued

June 15, 2020

Secretary of state releases names of candidates, PACs late filing finance reports

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill on Thursday released the names of the 111 candidates and Political Action Committees that have failed to meet deadlines to turn in annual financial reports. “Our team works diligently each and every day to see that those campaigning for public office and those who are elected and responsible for … Continued

June 11, 2020

Alabama poll workers get first ever elections guide

Municipal poll workers in Alabama for the first time will have a printed guide this year helping them navigate the details of election procedures. The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office and the Alabama League of Municipalities created the 16-page guide to help train poll workers and to answer questions that workers may have, according to … Continued

June 9, 2020

36 days left to apply for an absentee ballot for primary runoff election

Ahead of the July 14 Primary Runoff Election, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill reminds Alabama voters that there are 36 days left to apply for an absentee ballot. In order to protect the safety and well-being of our voters, Merrill encourages those who are concerned about contracting or spreading the coronavirus to apply for … Continued

June 3, 2020

Merrill’s opinions on vote by mail not supported by facts

Voting by mail does not lead to fraud. We know this because voting by absentee ballot is essentially the same thing as voting by mail. And it is so safe that millions of people, including the U.S. military, the current president, most of his family, a good chunk of Alabama legislators and about half of … Continued

May 29, 2020

League of Women Voters of Alabama sue over voting amid COVID-19 pandemic

The League of Women Voters of Alabama on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Gov. Kay Ivey, Secretary of State John Merrill and several Montgomery County election officials asking the court to expand Alabama’s absentee voting and relax other voting measures amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The nonprofit is joined in the suit by 10 plaintiffs who … Continued

May 28, 2020