Merrill vs. Allen: Voter Roll Feud Fuels 2026 Lt. Governor Buzz
“We maintained one of the cleanest voter rolls in the country,” - John Merrill
A public feud is heating up between Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen and his predecessor, John Merrill—centered on the state’s voter rolls and potentially shaping the 2026 race for Lieutenant Governor, the second-highest office on the ballot.
In a recent newsletter titled Truth Matters: Alabama’s Voter Rolls, former Secretary of State John Merrill pushed back against public claims made by Allen, who has alleged that Alabama’s voter rolls were bloated and mismanaged when he took office.
“We maintained one of the cleanest voter rolls in the country,” Merrill wrote. “The implication that the rolls were inflated or neglected during my time in office is simply not true.”
Allen, who has already declared his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor in 2026, previously stated that more than 160,000 ineligible names were removed from the voter rolls after he took over. He cited deceased voters, individuals registered in multiple states, and unauthorized entries as evidence of past mismanagement.
Merrill, who served from 2015 to 2023, responded sharply in his newsletter, defending the legal and procedural standards used during his tenure and challenging the accuracy of Allen’s narrative.
The sharp back-and-forth has triggered fresh speculation that Merrill may be preparing for a political comeback by entering the Lieutenant Governor's race, setting up a possible GOP primary battle between two well-known statewide officeholders.
While Merrill has not officially declared his candidacy, insiders say his public response marks a calculated move to defend his legacy and reestablish his presence ahead of 2026.
Read John Merrill’s full newsletter here: Truth Matters: Alabama’s Voter Rolls
