Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wes Allen joined us now our Secretary of State to
talk about the election process and where we are in
Alabama and his thoughts on nationally where we are. Wes,
welcome back in Thanks for being here.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Thanks at you appreciate it well.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I am glad to see that we're getting serious about
felony absentee ballot fraud. Is that seemed to be a
major concern last go around with the election, and I
think a lot of people are still concerned that it's
not so much about the votes, it's about the ballots
and how many come in and where they come from,
and who's watching them, and how many boxes show up
(00:31):
overnight and all of that said. So talk to me
first of all about the indictment of somebody named Terry
Heflin from Clay County here in Alabama. What was going
on with this?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Sure? Glad to appreciate you having me on JT. Yeah.
First off, let me just say that, you know, I've
been traveling all over the state talking about absentee ballot
application fraud and absentee ballot election fraud for years. And
you know I've been clear from day one that I
take election fraud seriously. And you know, I'm not kidding
about it. When I're all was made to where what
(01:01):
was happening in Clay County, we immediately referred the case
to the Attorney General, Steve Marshall for criminal prosecution. And
you know, I hope this case of Felling the voter
fraud is a signal to all those that are just
thinking about breaking Alabama election law. It's not going to
be tolerated. We will find you. You will be prosecuted
in this state to the fullest extent of the law.
But basically he was falsifying absentee ballot applications to vote
(01:25):
absentee for another person. And it's seven counts, seven indictments.
And appreciate the staff and the Secretary of State's office,
appreciate Senator or the Attorney General Marshall and his team,
and appreciate the local law enforcement there in Clay County.
And you know, election integrity is a top priority for
me and it has been since day one since we've
(01:46):
been in office.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Well, I think Alabama is probably one of the more
you know, transparent and integrity states when it comes to
our election process and getting the results. Are you confident
that because of what came up last time, and the
concerns about all of this, you know, even getting to
the point where you got to show voter ID, you've
got to be a US citizen. That's not true across
(02:08):
parts of this country. Now, has there been steps made
to improve upon that to ensure elections are good and clean?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Yeah, I understand and I share those same concerns that
we saw going around the country and other states. And
you know, in Alabama we are a excuse only absentee
voting state. There are some states that do not require
any type of excuse. They are states that do not
require any type of photo identification. And you know, the
(02:37):
mass mailing of ballots is really caused a lot of
problems last time in other states, but not in Alabama.
We have good processes in place. You know. I know
that Georgia passed the law back in twenty twenty one
to really kind of shore up their elections process. I
think that showed in twenty twenty two during the midterms,
(03:00):
people that were yelling and screaming that it was voter
suppression that did not happen. Matter of fact, they had
higher turnout in twenty twenty two. So they've done some
really good things to get their arms around it in Georgia.
In Alabama, you know, we passed that ballot Harvesting Bill
SB one that is some really strong felony provisions for
anybody that wants to manipulate the absentee voting process. We're
(03:22):
proud of that bill as well, and thankful to Governor
i Be signed that into law.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Obviously, things are different from state to state, and it's
a state issue. But do you do you see a
point where we're going to get to at least some
you know, bullet points federal laws and mandates when it
comes to basic common sense in electing officials in this country,
I e. Voter ID, are you a US citizen? You
know certain restrictions or I guess the reforms if you will,
(03:51):
on absenteeism and all. I mean, we've got to get
to some basic common sense standards on how we elect officials,
you know, with the votes and collecting the ballots.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Totally totally agree. I'll give you one example, the Save
Act that was voted on by the US House representatives
not long ago, and the Speaker Johnson led that fight
on that with Represented chip Royd. But basically, in a nutshell,
that bill would give election officials around the country, like myself,
the secretaries of state, the ability to verify citizenship. It's
(04:21):
common sense. I don't understand why one hundred and ninety
eight Democrats voted against giving us the ability to verify
citizenship when we have you know, eight to ten eleven
million illegal aliens that are flowing across invading the country
on the southern border. We need that ability to do that.
It's just common sense. And I just don't understand they've
(04:43):
lost their minds when they voted against that bill.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Well, I think we all know why they don't enforce
that because it means votes for them, and you know,
it's just disgusting that you know this is allowed and
they just tell you right, and we're not going to
do it, and they vote again because it's going to
hurt their party. I mean, they can't stand doing things
by the rules, and if they don't like the rules,
i e. The Supreme Court, they'll go ahead and try
and change the rules to accommodate their wants and needs.
It's disgusting and we got to put a stop to
(05:08):
it here at some point, just get this country back
on track. But I'm glad you're leading the charge here
in Alabama, and congrats on all that effort and I
appreciate you, thank you, Bud.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yes, sir, thank you, JJ. Appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
We'll have you back. Wes Allen, our Secretary of State,
Wes Allen joined us now our Secretary of State to
talk about the election process and where we are in
Alabama and his thoughts on nationally where we are. Wes,
welcome back in Thanks for being here.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Thanks at you appreciate it well.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I am glad to see that we're getting serious about
felony absentee ballot fraud. Is that seemed to be a
major concern last go around with the election, and I
think a lot of people are still concerned that it's
not so much about the votes, it's about the ballots
and how many come in and where they come from,
and who's watching them, and how many boxes show up
(00:31):
overnight and all of that said. So talk to me
first of all about the indictment of somebody named Terry
Heflin from Clay County here in Alabama. What was going
on with this?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Sure? Glad to appreciate you having me on JT. Yeah.
First off, let me just say that, you know, I've
been traveling all over the state talking about absentee ballot
application fraud and absentee ballot election fraud for years. And
you know I've been clear from day one that I
take election fraud seriously. And you know, I'm not kidding
about it. When I're all was made to where what
(01:01):
was happening in Clay County, we immediately referred the case
to the Attorney General, Steve Marshall for criminal prosecution. And
you know, I hope this case of Felling the voter
fraud is a signal to all those that are just
thinking about breaking Alabama election law. It's not going to
be tolerated. We will find you. You will be prosecuted
in this state to the fullest extent of the law.
But basically he was falsifying absentee ballot applications to vote
(01:25):
absentee for another person. And it's seven counts, seven indictments.
And appreciate the staff and the Secretary of State's office,
appreciate Senator or the Attorney General Marshall and his team,
and appreciate the local law enforcement there in Clay County.
And you know, election integrity is a top priority for
me and it has been since day one since we've
(01:46):
been in office.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Well, I think Alabama is probably one of the more
you know, transparent and integrity states when it comes to
our election process and getting the results. Are you confident
that because of what came up last time, and the
concerns about all of this, you know, even getting to
the point where you got to show voter ID, you've
got to be a US citizen. That's not true across
(02:08):
parts of this country. Now, has there been steps made
to improve upon that to ensure elections are good and clean?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Yeah, I understand and I share those same concerns that
we saw going around the country and other states. And
you know, in Alabama we are a excuse only absentee
voting state. There are some states that do not require
any type of excuse. They are states that do not
require any type of photo identification. And you know, the
(02:37):
mass mailing of ballots is really caused a lot of
problems last time in other states, but not in Alabama.
We have good processes in place. You know. I know
that Georgia passed the law back in twenty twenty one
to really kind of shore up their elections process. I
think that showed in twenty twenty two during the midterms,
(03:00):
people that were yelling and screaming that it was voter
suppression that did not happen. Matter of fact, they had
higher turnout in twenty twenty two. So they've done some
really good things to get their arms around it in Georgia.
In Alabama, you know, we passed that ballot Harvesting Bill
SB one that is some really strong felony provisions for
anybody that wants to manipulate the absentee voting process. We're
(03:22):
proud of that bill as well, and thankful to Governor
i Be signed that into law.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Obviously, things are different from state to state, and it's
a state issue. But do you do you see a
point where we're going to get to at least some
you know, bullet points federal laws and mandates when it
comes to basic common sense in electing officials in this country,
I e. Voter ID, are you a US citizen? You
know certain restrictions or I guess the reforms if you will,
(03:51):
on absenteeism and all. I mean, we've got to get
to some basic common sense standards on how we elect officials,
you know, with the votes and collecting the ballots.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Totally totally agree. I'll give you one example, the Save
Act that was voted on by the US House representatives
not long ago, and the Speaker Johnson led that fight
on that with Represented chip Royd. But basically, in a nutshell,
that bill would give election officials around the country, like myself,
the secretaries of state, the ability to verify citizenship. It's
(04:21):
common sense. I don't understand why one hundred and ninety
eight Democrats voted against giving us the ability to verify
citizenship when we have you know, eight to ten eleven
million illegal aliens that are flowing across invading the country
on the southern border. We need that ability to do that.
It's just common sense. And I just don't understand they've
(04:43):
lost their minds when they voted against that bill.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Well, I think we all know why they don't enforce
that because it means votes for them, and you know,
it's just disgusting that you know this is allowed and
they just tell you right, and we're not going to
do it, and they vote again because it's going to
hurt their party. I mean, they can't stand doing things
by the rules, and if they don't like the rules,
i e. The Supreme Court, they'll go ahead and try
and change the rules to accommodate their wants and needs.
It's disgusting and we got to put a stop to
(05:08):
it here at some point, just get this country back
on track. But I'm glad you're leading the charge here
in Alabama, and congrats on all that effort and I
appreciate you, thank you, Bud.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yes, sir, thank you, JJ. Appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
We'll have you back. Wes Allen, our Secretary of State,
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