Prattville resident Ed Packard has announced his candidacy for the office of Secretary of State. Packard is a 24-year employee of the Alabama Secretary of State’s office and served as state election director from 2013-2017.
The Auburn alum was previously elected to the Autauga County Republican Executive Committee. Packard ran for secretary of state in 2006 as a Democrat but lost to incumbent Nancy Worley in the primary.
Packard proposed implementing post-election audits for all elections in Alabama, noting it’s one of the most important tasks of the position. Alabama is currently only one of six states that doesn’t require post-election audits of any type.
“Alabama’s voters expect and are due the ability to vote in elections that are free and fair, ” Packard said in a statement. “Alabamians should not have to be concerned about whether our elections have integrity and credibility. We election administrators should faithfully implement the rules by which elections are held. And to ensure that is done, the Alabama Legislature should provide for post-election audits of all elections in the State of Alabama.”
Packard also said he supports Alabama’s requirement that voters show photo identification to cast a ballot. However, he also said he supports allowing voters with certain disabilities to return ballots online.
Secretary of State John Merrill demoted Packard in 2017 after nearly 3 million ballots had to be reprinted for the November election to add language that was omitted from an amendment to the Alabama constitution. The mistake cost the secretary of state’s office $459,690.80.
Merrill is term-limited from seeking reelection in 2022. Rep. Wes Allen is the only other candidate vying for the Republican nomination.
The primaries are set for May 24.
