CONTRIBUTED BY ED PACKARD

Ed Packard, a 24-year employee of the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, has announced announced his candidacy for the office of Secretary of State in the 2022 election cycle. Packard is a Republican, having previously been elected to the Autauga County Republican Executive Committee.

While the secretary of state is assigned many tasks under Alabama’s laws and the Constitution of 1901 — such as those related to business services, lands & trademarks  and adoptions of babies and other young children from foreign countries — perhaps the highest profile tasks are those related to administering elections in our state.

As Alabamians know, the secretary of state is Alabama’s chief state election official.

“Alabama’s voters expect and are due the ability to vote in elections that are free and fair,” Packard said.  “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.”

The U.S. Supreme Court has stated that voting in elections is the “crucial juncture at which the appeal to common principles may be translated into concerted action.”

“Alabamians should be assured that their right to vote can be used effectively to choose the men and women who will lead our federal, state, county and city governments,” Packard said.

As Alabama’s chief election official, the secretary of state should lead the charge to remind the Alabama Legislature how important elections are in a representative democracy and should urge legislators to make commonsense and reasonable changes to ensure that elections continue to have integrity and credibility.

“I have worked with the voting public and our county and city election officials for well over 24 years. I have heard their concerns about recent elections. We have a strong election system in Alabama, but there is always room for improvement, especially reasonable improvements that the voting public insists on,” Packard said.

Packard will be participating in the Alabama Republican Party Primary Election to be held on May 24, 2022. He invites the support of all Alabamians.

For further information, please reach out to Packard by phone at 334-826-3606 or by email at ed@edpackard.com.