The race for Alabama Secretary of State features Republican nominee Caroleene Dobson and Democratic nominee Wayne Rogers, who offer distinct visions for the constitutional office responsible for administering state elections, registering voters and businesses, and serving as the state’s primary record-keeper. The position has been held by Republicans since 2007, with current Secretary Wes Allen not seeking re-election.
Dobson, 39, secured the Republican nomination after a primary contest against two other candidates and the withdrawal of State Auditor Andrew Sorrell. In a May interview on WFSA, Dobson outlined her top priorities as ensuring secure elections and fostering a strong economy in Alabama. She cited her experience in the 2024 congressional race, stating she observed that while good procedures are in place for election integrity, there remains work to be done to ensure “100% secure” elections and “100% accurate” voter rolls, also seeking to shield the state from “far left activist groups from out of state.” If elected, Dobson plans to streamline services, reduce fees, and increase accessibility for business registration in the state.
She also proposed creating an “election integrity and securities” division within the Secretary of State’s Office, drawing inspiration from Florida’s Election Crimes and Security. Dobson noted that currently, no dedicated branch exists within the office to administer election laws, serve as a resource for questions on election procedure, or investigate claims of election fraud. However, election fraud is rare in Alabama, with the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation reporting 41 convictions or findings of voting fraud since 2000, out of over 2.2 million votes cast in the 2024 presidential election.
While not explicitly supporting early in-person voting, Dobson did emphasize the necessity of a functioning absentee ballot system for Alabamians unable to vote in person on Election Day, specifically mentioning essential workers like truckers and healthcare professionals. She committed to ensuring a secure “chain of custody between the probate judge and the person voting via absentee ballot, and no one else is involved.” Currently, Alabama’s absentee voting is reserved for specific groups, including the elderly, out-of-county residents, and those with long work shifts on Election Day, though the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily broadened its use. Campaign finance reports indicate Dobson raised almost $700,000, including a $500,000 personal loan at the campaign’s start, and spent approximately $724,000 through the end of August. Excluding her personal loan, her cash contributions primarily came from individuals (40.3%), followed by political action committees (36.7%), and businesses (14.4%).
Wayne Rogers, 64, the Democratic nominee, ran unopposed in his party’s primary and is a first-time political candidate. In a recent phone interview, Rogers detailed his priorities under what he calls the “Alabama Voting Rights Act.” He referenced recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, *Milligan* and *Louisiana v. Callais*, asserting they have significantly weakened the national Voting Rights Act. Rogers aims to establish state law that makes voting easier for Alabamians, clarifying he is “not talking about letting non-citizens vote.” The Supreme Court’s *Louisiana v. Callais* decision earlier this spring altered Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, requiring plaintiffs to demonstrate lawmakers’ intent to discriminate, rather than just discriminatory effect. This decision influenced a special session of the Alabama Legislature to establish the framework for the August special primary election under the state’s 2024 congressional maps, which had previously faced multiple challenges as racially discriminatory in federal courts and before the Supreme Court in *Allen v. Milligan*.
Rogers’ proposed state-level act would re-establish no-excuse absentee voting and open polls on the Saturday before an election. He also advocates for allowing 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote when obtaining their driver’s licenses, with their registration becoming active at age 18. He believes this pre-registration would significantly increase youth voter registration, noting that as of July, only 29% of Alabama’s 18-year-olds were registered, compared to an estimated 45% nationally across states with available data, according to the nonprofit Civics Center. While Alabama Democrats have historically supported early voting, Republican lawmakers have cited cost concerns. Rogers suggests opening polls for one day before general elections as a “satisfactory compromise,” predicting a 15% to 20% increase in turnout.
Furthermore, Rogers seeks to limit campaign contributions to $27,000 per campaign cycle, which he equates to half of the average Alabamian’s annual salary. He questions why any entity should be able to contribute more than six months’ wages of an average Alabamian to a campaign. His proposal also includes eliminating Alabama’s straight-ticket voting system, which allows voters to select an entire party’s slate with one mark. Rogers asserts this system “perpetuates the party that’s in power.” Alabama is one of six states that utilize straight-ticket voting, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
While broadly unpopular across both parties, some prominent Democrats, including gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones, have called for its elimination. Data from the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office shows that in the 2024 general election, over 1.5 million (67.7%) of 2.2 million ballots cast were straight-ticket, with over 1 million (65.1%) being Republican and approximately 540,000 (34.9%) Democratic. Approximately 58.9% of registered voters participated. In the 2022 general election, about 947,000 (66.6%) of 1.4 million ballots were straight-ticket, with almost 649,000 (65.1%) Republican and almost 299,000 (20.9%) Democratic. Approximately 38.6% of registered voters participated. It is important to note the Secretary of State does not have the power to introduce legislation. Rogers’ campaign finance reports show he raised about $39,000 and spent approximately $22,000 through August 31, with most contributions from individuals (71.5%), followed by businesses (20.8%) and PACs (7.2%).
