Newsroom | Alabama Secretary of State

Congress Appropriates $400 Million to Prepare States for Election Day amid Coronavirus Concerns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 30, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – After days of intense debate and negotiation, the White House and Congressional leaders have reached a historic $2 trillion coronavirus…

Published on March 30, 2020

Governor Ivey Issues State of Emergency Related to Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March 26, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Please see the link below for the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey’s Office on the Declaration of a Supplemental State of Emergency…

Published on March 26, 2020

Secretary of State Shares Guidance on Absentee Voting in Upcoming July 14 Primary Runoff Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 23, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Following the postponement of the March 31 Primary Runoff Election to July 14, Secretary of State John H. Merrill reminds Alabamians of…

Published on March 23, 2020

Governor Ivey Issues Supplemental State of Emergency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 23, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Please see the link below for the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey’s Office on the Declaration of a Supplemental State of Emergency in…

Published on March 23, 2020

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Responds to Kyle Whitmire of AL.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 20, 2020 - MONTGOMERY - The following statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill is in direct response to this morning’s opinion column written by Kyle…

Published on March 20, 2020

Governor Ivey Issues Supplemental State of Emergency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 18, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Please see the link below for the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey’s Office on the Declaration of a Supplemental State of Emergency…

Published on March 18, 2020

March 31 Runoff Election Postponed Until July 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 18, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Following a joint press conference featuring Governor Kay Ivey, Secretary of State John H. Merrill, and Attorney General Steve…

Published on March 18, 2020

Secretary of State Requests Emergency Opinion from Attorney General’s Office to Postpone Runoff Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sunday, March 15, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the State of Alabama and the declaration of a National Emergency by President…

Published on March 16, 2020

Governor Kay Ivey Issues State of Emergency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 13, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Please see the link below for the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey’s Office on the Declaration of a State of Emergency in response to…

Published on March 13, 2020

Secretary Merrill Issues Update on March 31 Runoff Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 13, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – This morning, Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Officer Dr. Scott Harris confirmed the first Coronavirus (COVID-19) case in the…

Published on March 13, 2020

Alabama Secretary of State Issues Response to Coronavirus Preparation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 11, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – The following statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill is in direct response to a recent opinion column published by AL.com…

Published on March 11, 2020

Secretary Merrill Responds to Inaccurate AL.com Reporter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March 5, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – The following statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill is in direct response to a recent opinion column authored by John…

Published on March 5, 2020

Secretary of State’s Office Provides Election Night Reporting for Super Tuesday Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, March 3, 2020 – Montgomery – The Secretary of State’s Office will provide election night reporting for today’s Presidential Preference Primary Election and Statewide…

Published on March 3, 2020

Secretary of State Works with Other State Agencies to Promote Voter Participation in March 3 Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 2, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Leading up to Election Day on March 3, the Office of the Secretary of State will be partnering with the Office of Governor Kay Ivey and…

Published on March 3, 2020

Today is the Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 27, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – For the March 3, 2020 Primary Election, today is the deadline to make application for an absentee ballot. Eligible Alabamians can…

Published on February 27, 2020

Secretary Merrill Calls for the Immediate Compliance of Political Signs in Cullman County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, February 21, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – After being made aware of political signage being improperly placed in Cullman County, Secretary of State John H. Merrill called for…

Published on February 21, 2020

Secretary of State Merrill Shares Information of State of Emergency Declaration from Governor Ivey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey's Office on the Declaration of a State of Emergency in…

Published on February 18, 2020

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Reminds Voters of Upcoming Registration Deadlines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, February 14, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – This year, Alabamians will have the opportunity to vote in several extremely important elections that will determine their…

Published on February 14, 2020

John Merrill Elected Chair of Republican Secretaries of State Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 13, 2020 - MONTGOMERY - During a recent visit to Washington, D.C., Secretary of State John H. Merrill had the privilege of meeting with the Republican…

Published on February 13, 2020

Secretary Merrill Confirms that Voting is Easier than Ever in Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, February 12, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – The following statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill is in response to the inaccurate report shared by the Southern…

Published on February 12, 2020

Secretary Merrill Recognizes Thomas Damsgard as One Millionth Electronically Registered Voter in the State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, February 3, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Earlier today, Secretary of State John H. Merrill visited Thompson High School in Alabaster to recognize Thomas Damsgard, the one…

Published on February 3, 2020

Secretary Merrill Issues Clarification on Voting in Alabama Related to STAR IDs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, January 30, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Following numerous constituency concerns related to the use of STAR IDs, Secretary of State John H. Merrill issued the following…

Published on January 30, 2020

Alabama Secretary of State to Attend Historic Signing of U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, January 27, 2020 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill will join President Donald J. Trump at The White House for the signing of the…

Published on January 28, 2020

Secretary of State’s Office Registers One Millionth Voter in the State Electronically

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, January 23, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – This morning, the Office of the Secretary of State electronically registered the one millionth voter in the state since…

Published on January 23, 2020

Secretary Merrill Issues Reminder to Report Voter Fraud

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, January 21, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – As the March 3 Primary Election approaches, Secretary of State John H. Merrill reminds Alabama voters of their role in the…

Published on January 21, 2020

Prepare for the Polls by Viewing Your Sample Ballot for the 2020 Primary Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, January 17, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Make sure you are prepared for the polls by viewing your sample ballot for the 2020 Primary Election! The Office of the Secretary of…

Published on January 17, 2020

Houston County is Now Accepting Online Business Filings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, January 15, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Houston County recently joined numerous other counties in the State of Alabama to allow online business filings for the formation…

Published on January 15, 2020

Secretary Merrill Begins Eighth Annual Tour of All 67 Counties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, January 13, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – Since taking office, Secretary of State John H. Merrill has coined a number of mantras – one of the most notable being the use of “#…

Published on January 13, 2020

Secretary of State John Merrill Celebrates Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, January 9, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – The following is a direct statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill in celebration of National Law Enforcement Appreciation…

Published on January 9, 2020

Secretary Merrill Announces Two New Counties to Allow Online Business Filings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, January 8, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – This morning, DeKalb and Geneva counties joined eight other counties in the State of Alabama in allowing online business filings for…

Published on January 8, 2020

Secretary Merrill Issues Response to Joey Kennedy of Alabama Political Reporter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, January 6, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – This morning, Secretary of State John H. Merrill issued the following response to a recent opinion column written by Joey Kennedy of…

Published on January 6, 2020

Secretary Merrill Reflects on Trip to Israel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, December 23, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Following the conclusion of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) Project…

Published on December 23, 2019

Secretary Merrill Warns of Misleading Letter Being Circulated Through Business Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, December 19, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Secretary of State John H. Merrill warns the business community of a misleading letter from the “AL Certificate Service” being…

Published on December 19, 2019

Secretary Merrill Works with Key Leaders across Israel to Increase Cybersecurity Efforts in America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, December 18, 2019 – MONTGOMERY AND JERUSALEM – Just five days into his visit to Jerusalem, Israel, Secretary Merrill has been exposed to a variety of challenges…

Published on December 18, 2019

Secretary of State Releases Over 9,000 Pages of Government Records Previously Unavailable Online

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, December 17, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Through accessing the Alabama Secretary of State’s website, users are now able to search through more than 9,000 pages and 800…

Published on December 17, 2019

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Joins U.S. Officials on Visit to Israel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, December 16, 2019 – JERUSALEM AND MONTGOMERY – This week, Secretary of State John H. Merrill joins a bipartisan delegation of Secretaries of State in Jerusalem,…

Published on December 16, 2019

Secretary Merrill Works with Facebook and Twitter to Stop the Spread of Misinformation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, December 10, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Earlier today, Secretary of State John H. Merrill met with representatives from Facebook and Twitter to ensure Alabama is prepared…

Published on December 10, 2019

Secretary of State to Reduce Online Business Filing Fees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, December 9, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Beginning January 1, 2020, Alabama business owners will no longer have to pay the additional $100.00 expedited processing fee when…

Published on December 9, 2019

Colbert County to Allow Online Business Filings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, November 18, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Today, Colbert County became the eighth county in the State of Alabama to allow online business filings for the formation of domestic…

Published on November 26, 2019

Election Night Reporting for State House District 74 Special General Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 12, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The Office of the Alabama Secretary of State will provide election night reporting for the State House District 74 Special General…

Published on November 12, 2019

John Merrill (Alabama Secretary of State) and Kyle Ardoin (Louisiana Secretary of State) Offer Wager in Honor of Saturday’s Game

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, November 8, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – This Saturday, No. 1 LSU will visit No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa for what is expected to be the biggest game between the teams since…

Published on November 8, 2019

Election Night Reporting for State House District 42 Special General Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 5, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The Office of the Alabama Secretary of State will provide election night reporting for the State House District 42 Special General…

Published on November 6, 2019

Secretary Merrill Issues Reminder to Domestic Violence Victims about Address Confidentiality Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 29, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The following is a direct statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill: “As we wrap up National Domestic Violence Awareness…

Published on October 29, 2019

Secretary Merrill Reminds Voters in House District 74 of Deadline to Register

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, October 28, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – On November 12, 2019, Alabama voters in State House District 74 will have the opportunity to elect their next representative to the…

Published on October 28, 2019

Secretary Merrill to Allow Campaign Finance Civil Penalties to be Paid Online

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, October 23, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Thanks to the leadership provided by Secretary of State John H. Merrill, anyone who has failed to comply with the Alabama Fair…

Published on October 23, 2019

Secretary Merrill to Observe National Cybersecurity Awareness Month through Hosting Counterintelligence and Security Seminar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, October 7, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – This month, Secretary of State John H. Merrill has partnered with agencies across the country to observe National Cybersecurity…

Published on October 7, 2019

Secretary Merrill Responds to Inaccurate Alabama Political Reporter Op-Ed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 3, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The following statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill is in direct response to the recent op-ed published by Joey Kennedy…

Published on October 3, 2019

Secretary Merrill Extends Poll Worker Opportunity to High School and College Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, September 30, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Alabama Act 2019-476 was passed during the 2019 Legislative Session, authorizing each Probate Judge to appoint up to two high school…

Published on September 30, 2019

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Celebrates National Voter Registration Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, September 23, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Tomorrow, Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill will join hundreds of partners from across the country to observe National…

Published on September 23, 2019

Secretary Merrill Authorizes New Absentee Option for Permanently Disabled Voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, September 12, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Alabama Act 2019-359 became effective September 1, 2019, allowing a permanently disabled voter to apply for a disabled voter…

Published on September 12, 2019

With the Help of Secretary Merrill, Jessi’s Law Becomes Effective

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, September 9, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – At the young age of 12, Jessi Kearley was impregnated by her biological father. In and out of the court system as her parents battled…

Published on September 9, 2019

Secretary Merrill Announces Madison County to Adopt Online Filings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, September 3, 2019 – MONTGOMERY - Secretary of State John H. Merrill is proud to announce that today, Alabama welcomes another county into the online filing process…

Published on September 3, 2019

Secretary Merrill Distributes “Alabama: The Bicentennial” to School Superintendents of Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 29, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Wednesday morning, the School Superintendents of Alabama met in Montgomery to meet with State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Eric…

Published on August 29, 2019

Election Night Reporting for State House District 74 Special Primary Runoff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, August 26, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The Office of the Alabama Secretary of State will provide election night reporting for the State House District 74 Special Primary…

Published on August 26, 2019

Secretary Merrill Issues Reminder to Voters About Deadline to Register

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 12, 2019 - MONTGOMERY – Alabama voters in the Special Primary Runoff Election for State House District 74 will make their final decisions regarding candidates…

Published on August 12, 2019

Alabama Secretary of State Named Co-Chair of NASS International Relations Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 8, 2019 – MONTGOMERY - Following the conclusion of the 2019 Summer Conference, the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) announced Committee Co-…

Published on August 8, 2019

Secretary Merrill Responds to Josh Moon of Alabama Political Reporter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, August 6, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The following is a statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill and is in direct response to the recent opinion column written by…

Published on August 6, 2019

Secretary Merrill Administers Absentee Voting Law Updates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, August 6, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Alabama Act 2019-507 became effective August 1, 2019, establishing new requirements for voters casting absentee ballots. A copy of the…

Published on August 6, 2019

Secretary Merrill Responds to Alabama Political Reporter Op-Ed on Voter ID Laws

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, July 31, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The following is a statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill and is in direct response to the recent opinion column written by…

Published on July 31, 2019

Secretary Merrill Announces 6th County to Adopt Online Business Filings Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, July 29, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Today, Morgan County became the 6th county in Alabama to adopt an online filings process for formation of domestic LLCs and domestic for-…

Published on July 29, 2019

Alabama’s 3.5 Million Registered Voters Continues to Shatter State Records

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, July 25, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Today, Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill announced that Alabama continues to shatter state voter registration records with more…

Published on July 25, 2019

Secretary Merrill Co-Authors “Alabama: The Bicentennial” History Book Benefitting Fourth-Grade Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 23, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill and co-author Tom Ward have released the history book Alabama: The Bicentennial,…

Published on July 23, 2019

Secretary Merrill Removes Russell County Registrar from Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, July 22, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Secretary Merrill removed a member of the Russell County Board of Registrars for cause. The case went before an…

Published on July 22, 2019

The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office Receives Perfect Audit from State Auditor Jim Ziegler

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, July 15, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – This morning, State Auditor Jim Ziegler recognized the Secretary of State’s efforts in securing a perfect audit for all three state…

Published on July 15, 2019

Secretary Merrill States Support for President Trump’s Request for U.S. Citizenship Question on U.S. Census

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, July 5, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill has submitted a letter outlining his support for the Executive Order or other legal remedies…

Published on July 5, 2019

Secretary Merrill Announces Three Consecutive Years of Same-Day Business Filings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, June 21, 2019 – MONTGOMERY –Today marks three consecutive years of same-day business filings by the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office. “Today, we have reached a…

Published on June 21, 2019

Secretary Merrill Receives National Leadership Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, June 18, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Secretary John H. Merrill on Monday received the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s Leading Globally Matters Locally Award during the…

Published on June 18, 2019

Secretary Merrill Responds to Inaccurate Montgomery Advertiser Op-Ed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 13, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The following statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill is in direct response to the recent op-ed published in the Montgomery…

Published on June 13, 2019

House District 74 Special Primary Election Night Reporting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, June 11, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office will provide election night reporting for the House District 74 Special Primary Election.…

Published on June 11, 2019

Secretary Merrill Expands Online Business Filing to Include Domestic and Foreign Limited Liability Partnerships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, June 10, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Today, Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill expanded online business filing services to include domestic and foreign limited…

Published on June 10, 2019

Secretary Merrill Renews Commitment to the Alabama Election Fairness Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 6, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Election Fairness Project has been renewed in a Memorandum of Understanding between Alabama’s Secretary of State John H.…

Published on June 6, 2019

Secretary Merrill Announces 5th County to Adopt Online Business Filings Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2019 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is excited to announce a new online filing tool for businesses to submit filing documentation to the…

Published on May 13, 2019

Alabama Secretary of State Partners with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to Host the First Democracy Tour in Alabama!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 6, 2019 Contact: John Bennett, John.Bennett@sos.Alabama.gov (Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill) Shawn Starkey, StarkeyS@Michigan.gov (Michigan Secretary of…

Published on May 6, 2019

Secretary Merrill Announces Appointment of Director of Elections - Clay Helms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, May 3, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office is excited to announce that Clay Helms has been officially appointed as the Director of Elections.…

Published on May 3, 2019

Secretary Merrill Releases Campaign Finance Committees Not in Compliance with Annual Reporting Requirements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, May 2, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) governs how local and state candidates and Political Action Committees (PACs) spend and…

Published on May 2, 2019

Secretary Merrill and Judge Tatum are Representing Alabama at the EAC Standards Board Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 11, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill and Bullock County Probate Judge James Tatum are attending a two-day meeting in Memphis,…

Published on April 11, 2019

Secretary Merrill Announces Transition to New Chief Legal Counsel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, April 8, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – In June of 2018 the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office welcomed Hugh R. Evans, when he joined Secretary Merrill’s team following his…

Published on April 8, 2019

UPDATE: Governor Ivey Calls Special Election for House District 74

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, April 1, 2019 – MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is announcing the Special Election for State House District 74. Governor Ivey called the…

Published on April 1, 2019

Secretary Merrill Announces Expansion of Online Filing Tools: Trademarks can now be filed online!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 25, 2019 – MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is excited to announce another expansion of the online services offered to the people of…

Published on March 25, 2019

Secretary Merrill Announces Elmore County Business Filings Now Available on the Secretary of State's Website!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is excited to announce a new online filing tool for businesses to submit filing documentation to the…

Published on March 22, 2019

Secretary Merrill Announces Foreign Business Registration Now Available on the Secretary of State's Website!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, March 19, 2019 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is excited to announce that another avenue is now available for Alabamians to accomplish…

Published on March 19, 2019

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Shares Information on State of Emergency Declaration From Governor Ivey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2019 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey's Office on the Declaration of a State of Emergency in response to the…

Published on February 24, 2019

Announcement: Secretary Merrill Announces Newly Appointed Members of the Probate Judges' Advisory Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 21, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Secretary of State John H. Merrill is excited to announce newly appointed members of the Probate Judges’ Advisory Council. The…

Published on February 21, 2019

RESPONSE: Secretary Merrill Responds to Racist Editorial in the Democrat-Reporter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, February 19, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – The following is a statement from Secretary of State John H. Merrill and is in direct response to the recent editorial written by…

Published on February 20, 2019

REPORT: Secretary Merrill testified before House Committee on Homeland Security

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, February 15, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Secretary Merrill was asked to testify before the House Committee on Homeland Security on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 regarding…

Published on February 14, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT: Secretary Merrill Announces Availability of Proclamations On Secretary of State Website

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, February 13, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill has worked to digitize proclamations issued by the Office of the Governor of Alabama.…

Published on February 13, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT: Secretary John Merrill Will Testify Before House Homeland Security Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, February 8, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Secretary of State John H. Merrill has agreed to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security during an election…

Published on February 8, 2019

REMINDER: Secretary Merrill Issues Reminder on Deadline to File FCPA Annual Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, January 30, 2019 – MONTGOMERY – Secretary Merrill is reminding elected officials, candidates, former candidates, and political action committees (PACs) that the…

Published on January 30, 2019

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Shares Information on State of Emergency Declaration From Governor Ivey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, January 28, 2019 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey's Office on the Declaration of a State of Emergency in response…

Published on January 28, 2019

Alabama Secretary of State Begins Legal Action Against Campaign Finance Violators

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, December 27, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - As authorized by Act 2015-495, which was passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2015, and went into effect with the start of the 2018…

Published on December 27, 2018

Alabama Secretary of State Releases Updates on Crossover Voting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, December 6, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - At the conclusion of the 2017 United States Senate Special Election Run-off, the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office reviewed a…

Published on December 6, 2018

Alabama Secretary of State Working to Collect Campaign Finance Fines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, December 4, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - As required by Act 2015-495, which was passed by the legislature in 2015, and went into effect with the start of the 2018 Election…

Published on December 4, 2018

Alabama Secretary of State Convenes the State Canvassing Board to Certify Election Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, November 21, 2018 – MONTGOMERY – The Alabama State Canvassing Board will meet Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office to…

Published on November 21, 2018

Alabama Secretary of State's Office Has Recovered over $100,000 in FCPA Fines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, November 16, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office is required to issue penalties to Political Action Committees (PACs) and Principle Campaign…

Published on November 16, 2018

Secretary Merrill Releases Updates on Counting Write-In Votes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 13, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - State law requires the Secretary of State’s Office to review county vote totals and compare those totals to the number of write-in…

Published on November 13, 2018

UPDATE: Secretary of State John H. Merrill Releases Information On Polling Location Hours

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, November 1, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - All polling sites in each one of Alabama’s 67 counties are scheduled to be open at 7:00 AM and will remain open until 7:00 PM…

Published on November 6, 2018

Secretary Merrill Responds to Inaccurate AL.com Article

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, November 1, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - An article published late Wednesday evening by Lee Roop and Paul Gattis presented voters with an inaccurate and understandably…

Published on November 1, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Issues Guidance for Straight Party Voting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Voters who wish to cast a straight party vote for all of the candidates on the ballot in either the Republican or Democratic Party…

Published on October 31, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Reminds Voters of Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Reminder: The deadline to make application for an absentee ballot is Thursday, November 1, 2018. As required in the Code of…

Published on October 24, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Reminds Voters of the Deadline to Register

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 16, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Secretary of State's Office is reminding Alabamians of the upcoming deadline to register to vote in advance of the…

Published on October 16, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Shares Information on State of Emergency Proclamation From Governor Ivey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 11, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey's Office on the Supplemental State of Emergency Proclamation in…

Published on October 11, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Shares Information on State of Emergency Declaration From Governor Ivey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, October 8, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey's Office on the Declaration of a State of Emergency in response to…

Published on October 8, 2018

Alabama Secretary of State announces 117 straight weeks of same-day business filings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 26, 2018 – MONTGOMERY - When Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill took office in 2015, one of his top priorities was to eliminate any waiting period for…

Published on September 26, 2018

TODAY is National Voter Registration Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 25, 2018 – MONTGOMERY - Today, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill joins hundreds of different partners around the nation to observe National Voter Registration…

Published on September 25, 2018

Alabama Secretary of State announces new initiative to assist visually-impaired voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 20, 2018 – TALLADEGA - Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill announced this morning a new initiative by his office to help Alabama voters with visual impairments…

Published on September 20, 2018

Secretary of State responds to ACLU lawsuit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 19, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - The following statement is a quote from Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill regarding the lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Alabama today: "…

Published on September 19, 2018

Secretary of State Website Offers New Information for Voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2018 - MONTGOMERY – Midterm elections, set for Tuesday, November 6, 2018, are less than two months away, and Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill wants voters…

Published on September 14, 2018

Alabama Secretary of State recognizes National Voter Registration Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 13, 2018 - MONTGOMERY – On Tuesday, September 25, 2018, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill will join hundreds of different partners around the nation to observe…

Published on September 14, 2018

Alabama Secretary of State announces press conference at Alabama School for the Blind

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - WHAT: Press conference announcing a new partnership between the Alabama Secretary of State’s office and the Alabama School for the Blind,…

Published on September 14, 2018

Campaign Finance Editorial from Secretary Merrill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 10, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - I am disappointed to find myself, once again, in a position to ask what purpose the Alabama Ethics Commission serves to the people of this…

Published on September 10, 2018

Secretary Merrill Releases Names of Independent and Minor Party Candidates Qualified for the November General Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 23, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill released today the names of independent and minor party candidates who have qualified for ballot access…

Published on July 23, 2018

Secretary Merrill Sends Reminder to Voters on Crossover Voting Rules

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 14, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - On July 17, 2018, voters will return to the polls to make a final selection for the candidates they want to represent the Republican or Democrat…

Published on July 14, 2018

Secretary Merrill Issues Reminders to Voters on Absentee Voting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Thursday, July 12, 2018 and the application must be received by the close of business. The deadline…

Published on July 9, 2018

Secretary Merrill Sends Reminder on Voter Registration Deadline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama voters will come together on July 17, 2018 to make final selections regarding candidates representing the Republican and Democrat party…

Published on July 2, 2018

Secretary Merrill Announces One Million Newly Registered Voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - It's morning in Alabama, and Alabamians are registering to vote and turning out to cast their ballot in record numbers. Secretary of State John H…

Published on June 22, 2018

Secretary Merrill's Editorial Regarding FCPA and the Ethics Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - In the 2015 Alabama Legislative Session, the Legislature passed legislation that required all county candidates and political action committees…

Published on June 12, 2018

Statement from Secretary Merrill on Supreme Court Ruling on Ohio's Voter Purge Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - The following is a statement from Secretary Merrill on the recent court ruling in the Ohio Voter Purge Process: "I am pleased to see that the…

Published on June 11, 2018

Nationally Recognized Ethics Leader Joins Secretary of State John Merrill's Legal Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - On June 1, 2018, Mr. Hugh R. Evans, a distinguished veteran in the state public service, joined the Secretary of State's team following his…

Published on June 7, 2018

Secretary Merrill Issues Reminders to Voters on Absentee Voting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Thursday, May 31, 2018 and the application must be received by the close of business today. The…

Published on May 31, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Shares Information on State of Emergency Declaration From Governor Ivey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the Proclamation from Governor Ivey's Office on the State of Emergency Declaration made in regards to the threat from…

Published on May 27, 2018

Secretary Merrill Issues Reminders to Voters on Absentee Voting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot for the June 5, 2018 Primary Election in Alabama is fast approaching. The deadline to apply for an…

Published on May 23, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Announces Expansion of Online Filing Tools in Upcoming Jackson County Press Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 8, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is excited to announce a new online filing tool for businesses to submit filing documentation online to…

Published on March 8, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Announces Expansion of Online Filing Tools for Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is excited to announce the continued expansion of online filing tools for citizens and businesses…

Published on February 23, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Shares Information on State of Emergency Declaration From Governor Ivey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 15, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the Proclamation from Governor Ivey's Office on the State of Emergency Declaration made in regards to the threat…

Published on January 15, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Shares Information on State of Emergency Declaration From Governor Ivey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 11, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the Proclamation from Governor Ivey's Office on the State of Emergency Declaration made in regards to the flu…

Published on January 11, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Issues Statement on Ruling in Photo ID Lawsuit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2018 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is excited to announce U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler has issued a 69 page ruling dismissing a…

Published on January 10, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Announces 4th Annual International Adoption Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2018 – MONTGOMERY – Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill and his team will host the fourth annual International Adoption Day on Monday, January 29, 2018 at 2…

Published on January 10, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Issues Reminder to Candidates on Upcoming Legislative Blackout

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is reminding Candidates and Political Action Committees of the upcoming freeze on the fundraising…

Published on January 4, 2018

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Announces Date of State Canvassing Board Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - The Alabama State Canvassing Board will meet Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Alabama Secretary of State's Office to certify…

Published on December 22, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Releases Updated Information on Questions Regarding Voter Fraud

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - The most controversial issue regarding potential voter fraud that has been reported to the Office of The Secretary of State following the US…

Published on December 21, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Releases Updated Numbers on UOCAVA and Provisional Ballots

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - There have been several questions raised about the number of Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ballots and…

Published on December 20, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Releases Updated Numbers on Write-In Votes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Pursuant to Act 2016-450, regarding the identification and recordation of write-in votes, the Secretary of State has determined that the…

Published on December 18, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Provides Clarification on Straight Ticket Voting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - In an effort to provide clarification concerning questions our office has received regarding the Party Preference selection option located at…

Published on December 12, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Provides Clarification for Erroneous Site Listing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Reports to the Alabama Secretary of State's Office indicate that an advertisement has been circulating this evening directing voters to…

Published on December 12, 2017

Secretary of State Works with Google to Remove Misleading Highway 31 Advertisement From the Internet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 6, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Recent reports to the Alabama Secretary of State's Office indicated the existence of an ad that was targeting Alabamians with incorrect or…

Published on December 7, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Provides Clarification on Roy Moore Campaign's Letter to the Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - On Friday, December 1, 2017, at approximately 5:10 PM, Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill received a report from an official at the Roy…

Published on December 5, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Provides Clarification on Inaccurate Information in Highway 31 Now Ad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - In the Alabama Secretary of State Office's continued efforts to empower and encourage all Alabama residents to participate in the electoral…

Published on December 5, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Issues Guidance for Voters in State House District 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Voters located in parts of Morgan and Limestone County will have an additional race to vote for when they head to the polls on December 12.…

Published on December 1, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Issues Guidance for Voters in State Senate District 26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Voters located in parts of Montgomery County will have an additional race to vote for when they head to the polls on December 12. Those…

Published on December 1, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Issues Guidance for Casting a Write-in Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Due to a large number of requests for guidance on the exact procedures that someone would need to follow to cast a write-in vote in the…

Published on November 29, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill TODAY is the Deadline to Register to Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 27, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Secretary of State's Office has been made aware of erroneous messages being distributed by individuals claiming to be members of…

Published on November 27, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Reminds Voters of the Deadline to Register

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 22, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama voters will come together on December 12, 2017 to elect the next United States Senator from Alabama. The deadline to register to vote…

Published on November 22, 2017

UPDATE: Crossover Voting Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 17, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - At the conclusion of the 2017 United States Senate Special Election Run-off, the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office reviewed a formal,…

Published on November 17, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Provides Update on 2016 FCPA Annual Report Violators

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - For the first time since the Alabama Legislature created the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA), the Alabama Secretary of State's Office…

Published on November 8, 2017

Update on Crossover Voting Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 6, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Today is the deadline for 41 Alabama Counties to return information to the Alabama Secretary of State's Office on the 674 voters that were…

Published on November 6, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Shares Information on HD 21 Special Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 16, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the Proclamation from Governor Ivey's Office on HD 21. The election calendar for this race will be available on…

Published on October 16, 2017

Governor Ivey Declares State of Emergency in Advance of Tropical Storm Nate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 5, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the Proclamation from Governor Ivey's Office on the State of Emergency Declaration made in advance of Tropical…

Published on October 5, 2017

Secretary Merrill Releases Proclamation for the Senate District 26 Special Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Please see the link below for the Proclamation from Governor Ivey's Office on SD 4. The election calendar for this race will be available on the…

Published on October 2, 2017

Proclamation From Governor Kay Ivey On Special Election for House District 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 29, 2017 - Please follow the link below to view the proclamation from Governor Kay Ivey's Office regarding the Special Election for Alabama State House District 4.…

Published on September 29, 2017

Letter From Secretary Merrill on Crossover Voting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 26, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - This morning, reports from several voting locations have indicated that poll workers have been identified assisting or allowing voters, which…

Published on September 26, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Releases Information Regarding Potential Breaches in State of Alabama Systems

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 22, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Recent information has been presented to Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill regarding the potential system compromises due to Russian…

Published on September 22, 2017

Secretary of State John H. Merrill Releases Information Reminding Voters of New Crossover Voting Rules

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - On September 26, 2017, voters will return to the polls to make a final selection for the candidate they want to represent the Republican…

Published on September 18, 2017

Governor Ivey Issues Executive Order Extending the Voter Registration Deadline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 11, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Due to state and county office closures caused by Hurricane Irma, voter registration applications can now be submitted electronically via:…

Published on September 11, 2017

Senate Special Election Runoff Registration Deadlines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 6, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State is reminding Alabamians that the last day to register to vote is Monday, September 11, 2017. Voters intending to…

Published on September 6, 2017

Online Business Filings Now Available in Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill is excited to announce a new online filing tool for businesses to submit filing documentation online…

Published on August 24, 2017

Inactive Voters - Voter Record Refresh Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 16, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Beginning in January of 2017, as required by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Alabama Secretary of State's Office began a process…

Published on August 16, 2017

Secretary Merrill Releases Information Regarding the Restoration of Felony Voting Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 4, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill would like to remind the People of Alabama of a law change passed by the Alabama State Legislature in…

Published on August 7, 2017

The Elimination of Crossover Voting in Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE By Secretary of State John H. Merrill August 4, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - In the State of Alabama, primary elections serve as the preliminary process by which candidates are…

Published on August 7, 2017

Secretary John H. Merrill Named NASS Vice President of the Southern Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) is the oldest non-partisan group public officials in the United States. The group consists…

Published on July 13, 2017

Secretary Merrill Announces Renewed Deadline for FCPA Monthly Reports

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, July 5, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Due to the extension of the July 4th holiday, which was ordered by Governor Kay Ivey, the Alabama Secretary of State's Office has…

Published on July 5, 2017

Secretary Merrill Responds to Questions About Letter from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - The Office of the Secretary of State understands that voter fraud is an incredibly important issue that citizens of this state take seriously.…

Published on June 30, 2017

Secretary Merrill Announces New Reporting Requirements for FCPA Filers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - As a part of our continued efforts to supply more accountability and transparency in the area of campaign finance reporting, Secretary Merrill has…

Published on June 30, 2017

The Business Services Division in the Office of the Secretary of State establishes new standard for consistency and public service expectations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2017 - MONTGOMERY - Historically, the Business Services Division in the office of the Secretary of State has always processed its paperwork days, weeks, and even…

Published on June 27, 2017