John Merrill
Secretary of State investigating Bessemer for potential voter fraud
While rumors of election fraud or irregularities have lingered in the city for years, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill confirmed to WBHM his office is looking into allegations of voter fraud in Bessemer this election cycle.
As Other States Drew Fire For Passing Restrictive Election Laws, Alabama Skirted The Limelight
National attention fell on Georgia for changes to its election laws earlier this year, but Alabama made changes too.
Secretary of State John Merrill Won’t Run For Office Next Year, Acknowledges Affair
Merrill was expected to announce a run for U.S. Senate in 2022.
County Commission Votes To Open The Courthouses For Saturday Absentee Voting
The Jefferson County Commission voted unanimously Friday to open the courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer for in-person absentee voting.
Secretary of State Intervenes As Frustration Mounts Among Jefferson County Voters
The Alabama Secretary of State's Office created a new plan to help Jefferson County with its long absentee voting lines and understaffing, but specifics of the plan remain unclear.
Alabama Secretary Of State: There Will Be No Delay In Reporting November Election Results
Demand for absentee ballots is expected to surge because of the pandemic. Secretary of State John Merrill is confident election officials can handle the increase.
Polling Officials Say Alabama’s July 14 Election Won’t Mirror Georgia’s Snafus
Alabama is prepared for the July 14 primary runoffs, according to Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill.
Doug Jones: ‘We Don’t Want To Overrun This System.’
U.S. Sen. Doug Jones says everyone has to do their part to fight the spread of the coronavirus. Congress is working on relief packages to support the medical community and address the economic fallout.
Report Reveals Voter Access Difficult In Alabama
Super Tuesday is nearly a week away and hundreds-of-thousands of Alabama voters are expected to turn out. But according to a new report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Alabama remains one of the most difficult states for an eligible voter to register and cast a ballot.
Iowa’s Election Problems Can’t Happen in Alabama, Merrill Says
Problems like the ones in the Iowa Democratic caucus cannot happen in Alabama because the state holds elections, not closed meetings of political parties to select candidates, the state’s top elections official said Thursday.
How Trump Factors into Jeff Sessions’ Senate Run
Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is expected to join a long list of Republicans who want to be Alabama's next U.S. Senator.
#DougMeetsMiles: Jones Takes Questions Via Twitter at Forum With College Students
Sen. Doug Jones told an audience of students from Miles College that when he went to Washington, D.C. he didn’t realize that he was going to be a part of a government that functioned according to what someone says on Twitter — an oblique reference to President Donald Trump’s penchant for tweets that make the nation’s capital go topsy-turvy.
Jones, Byrne Lead in Fundraising Among Candidates in 2020 US Senate Race
Democratic incumbent Sen. Doug Jones raised $1.8 million for his election campaign during the past three months, outpacing the still-forming field of candidates for Alabama’s 2020 U.S. Senate elections.
Merrill Announces Run for Alabama U.S. Senate Seat
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill is adding his name to the long list of Republicans who hope to unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Doug Jones. Merrill says Alabama needs a “proven conservative” in the Senate who will support President Donald Trump on issues like immigration and judicial appointments.
Merrill to Testify Before Congressional Committee
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill plans to testify Wednesday before a congressional committee looking into election security. Merrill is one of a handful of state and local election officials giving feedback on a bill meant to improve the nation’s voting laws. He has issues with some of the provisions in the proposed legislation.
Facebook, Twitter, Other Social Media Play Roles in Elections. But Handshakes Remain a Factor Too
Recently, Alabama’s Republican secretary of state, John Merrill, got into a Twitter spat with Mallory Hagan, a Democrat running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, over whether Merrill is suppressing the vote in the state. To have candidates for political office, one of them an incumbent office holder, debate such a contentious issue on Twitter demonstrates how much social media has become a part of the conversations surrounding elections, including the upcoming midterms.
Committee Probes Whether Laws Limit Access for Voters
An Alabama advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights holds its first hearing Thursday in Montgomery. It’s the first of a series of discussions looking into the ways Alabama’s voting regulations affect people’s ability to vote. There will be testimony from academics and policy makers, and members of the public will be invited to comment.
Doug Jones Certified as Winner of U.S. Senate Election
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill on Thursday certified the election results from the Dec. 12 special U.S. Senate election, naming Democrat Doug Jones the winner over Republican Roy Moore. Jones defeated Moore by more than 21,000 votes, or 1.6 percentage points. Moore had refused to concede. On Wednesday, he sued to block the certification […]
Voter ID Law Creates Hurdles for Homebound Man
When Alabama primary voters go to the polls on March 1, they’ll have to show a government-issued photo ID. The law has been in place since 2014 and most people use their driver’s license. But for those who can’t get to a driver’s license office, the law creates difficulties. Samuel Stayer is one voter who ran into problems.
