State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) has qualified to run for the open seat of Secretary of State. He will run in the May 24th Republican primary for the seat being left by outgoing Secretary of State John Merrill (R).

The Secretary of State is the top elections administrator in Alabama. In his statement at qualification, Zeigler said:

“Over the next eight years, the job of Secretary of State will be vital. We face national attempts to manipulate honest election procedures. Alabama needs a proven fighter against government overreach to be our fighting Secretary of State.

“We face attempts to allow non-citizens to vote. Jim Zeigler will fight against that. Only U.S. citizens should vote in U.S. elections.”

“We face efforts to change ‘election day’ to ‘election week’ or ‘election month.’ Jim Zeigler will fight against that. We need to be vigilant against those who would vote early and often.

“We face assaults against our requirement for photo voter ID. Jim Zeigler will fight to keep and enforce our voter ID requirements.

“We face ballot harvesting; automatic voter registration on election day; drive-by drop-off ballot boxes; and voting by mail. A vote for Jim Zeigler is a vote against all these methods of manipulation.

“As your State Auditor, I led the fight against waste, mismanagement, and corruption. As your Secretary of State, I can apply that same approach to fight the manipulation of our elections.

“As your State Auditor, some people called me ‘the watchman.’ I will continue as your watchman over the election process as Secretary of State.

“Election integrity may be the most important single issue. The reason is this: If we lose our ability to elect or defeat officials, then all other issues will have lost accountability to the people. We would have government of the manipulators, by the manipulators, and for the manipulators. A vote for Jim Zeigler is a vote against