Clay County Commission Candidate Convicted of Voter Fraud

Terry Andrew Heflin, a former Democratic candidate for District 5 of the Clay County Commission, has been convicted of absentee ballot fraud. Heflin pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful use of absentee ballots, a Class C felony under Alabama law.

According to the Attorney General's Office, Heflin admitted to submitting an absentee ballot on behalf of another individual without their knowledge or consent during his campaign. He directed the ballot to his own post office box and cast the vote for himself.

"Voter fraud is a direct attack on our democratic process, and it will not be ignored or excused in Alabama," Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement. "When someone cheats the system to steal a vote, they are stealing the voice of their fellow citizens. This conviction sends a clear and unmistakable message: if you undermine our elections by committing voter fraud, you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted."

Heflin was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, with 15 days to be served in jail, and was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine.

The case was prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Division of the Alabama Attorney General's Office, with assistance from the Alabama Secretary of State's Office.

Heflin was initially arrested in July 2024 on seven felony counts of voter fraud, accused of falsifying absentee ballot applications for multiple individuals and casting votes in their names during his campaign.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen commented on the case, stating that the arrest and conviction of Heflin "send a message that we are serious about election integrity."

This conviction underscores Alabama's commitment to upholding the integrity of its electoral process and ensuring that violations are met with appropriate legal consequences.