Our 2026 elections and election integrity

For January 2023 through February 2026, please see Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: What should Americans do about election integrity?.

Particularly note the Email to Wayne Rogers and Caroleene Dobson re "AL Sec'y of State election: From 2020 elections to 2026 elections, and afterwards" sent in January this year, which is as follows:

From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: joinus@waynerogersforalsecretaryofstate.com <joinus@waynerogersforalsecretaryofstate.com>; caroleene@dobsonforalabama.com <caroleene@dobsonforalabama.com>
Cc: Laney.Rawls@sos.alabama.gov <laney.rawls@sos.alabama.gov>; rgarris@leeco.us <rgarris@leeco.us>; BillEnglish <probatejudge@mindspring.com>; wrossmorris@gmail.com <wrossmorris@gmail.com>; garydl4316@gmail.com <garydl4316@gmail.com>; tlangleylcc@gmail.com <tlangleylcc@gmail.com>; johnhr50@aol.com <johnhr50@aol.com>; wchristian@oanow.com <wchristian@oanow.com>; ljohnson@oanow.com <ljohnson@oanow.com>; jwest@oanow.com <jwest@oanow.com>; afranco@oanow.com <afranco@oanow.com>; mayor@cullmanal.gov <mayor@cullmanal.gov>; jfolsom@cullmanal.gov <jfolsom@cullmanal.gov>; jcook@cullmanal.gov <jcook@cullmanal.gov>; bsmith@cullmanal.gov <bsmith@cullmanal.gov>; dmoss@cullmanal.gov <dmoss@cullmanal.gov>; chollingsworth@cullmanal.gov <chollingsworth@cullmanal.gov>; alexcreynolds@gmail.com <alexcreynolds@gmail.com>; dianeken333@yahoo.com <dianeken333@yahoo.com>; michelle.thomason@bellsouth.net <michelle.thomason@bellsouth.net>; britneymgarner@gmail.com <britneymgarner@gmail.com>; snewmanhsv@gmail.com <snewmanhsv@gmail.com>; kmiller@cullmantimes.com <kmiller@cullmantimes.com>; tmayer@cullmantimes.com <tmayer@cullmantimes.com>; ashavers@cullmantimes.com <ashavers@cullmantimes.com>; comments@abc3340.com <comments@abc3340.com>; programming@abc3340.com <programming@abc3340.com>; blong@hearst.com <blong@hearst.com>; wcromwell@cbs42.com <wcromwell@cbs42.com>; rmartin@cbs42.com <rmartin@cbs42.com>; jason.mathews@gray.tv <jason.mathews@gray.tv>
Sent: Friday, January 9, 2026 at 04:12:53 PM CST
Subject: AL Sec'y of State election: From 2020 elections to 2026 elections, and afterwards
Dear Wayne Rogers and Caroleene Dobson:
You are announced Democratic and Republican candidates for Alabama Secretary of State.
Five years after the 2020 election, and facing the 2026 elections, the United States is immensely roiled by Donald Trump continuing to say the 2020 election was "rigged" and by his (Trump's) seeking to rewrite the history of January 6th, 2021, to protect himself personally and politically, including from the Democrats winning the 2026 elections.
I cannot find if current Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has a public position that he believes or does not believe that the 2020 election was rigged, as Donald Trump contends.
Secretary Allen has been going on for some time about "election integrity," and I have endeavored to challenge Secretary Allen about this as set out at Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: What should Americans do about election integrity?.
With the November 3, 2026, election day getting closer, I think political hatreds and animosities are growing in the United States, with a significant contributing factor being Trump's inflammatory contentions about the 2020 election being rigged and about the violent January 6th protesters being patriots.
I would say there is no telling what political conflagration will or will not happen in the United States prior to November 3, 2026 or afterwards, and that parties having standing and influence should try to tamp down the inflamed condition of the American electorate, particularly connected with the 2020 election and January 6th, 2021.
I think you, as candidates for Alabama Secretary of State, should tell Alabamians (1) whether you believe the 2020 election was "rigged" as Donald Trump says; (2) what you think Wes Allen, as the current Alabama Secretary of State, should say or do to try to help tamp down (or not) the inflaming that Trump is doing regarding the 2020 election and regarding January 6th, 2021; and (3) what you will do and say (or not say or do) related to the same (if you are elected Alabama Secretary of State).
I am copying on this email Secretary Allen and persons with whom I communicated or tried to communicate in 2023 as shown in Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: What should Americans do about election integrity?.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I hope the two of you will speak publicly as I am urging.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook

Next, please see my July17th Facebook post of the national League of Women Voters press release League of Women Voters Strongly Denounces President Trump’s False Claims About Election Security in National Address | League of Women Voters and asking, "Do you think the League of Women Voters of the US has a good, non-partisan reputation that it would be worthwhile to spread in Alabama their press release?" "League of Women Voters Strongly Denounces President Trump’s False Claims About Election Security in National Address"? Numerous comments I put on the post indicate my efforts to spread the press release in Alabama.

Following my July 17th post I had the following email correspondence to and from the League of Women Voters of Alabama and the League of Women Voters of Mobile:

From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: leagueofwomenvotersmobile@gmail.com <leagueofwomenvotersmobile@gmail.com>
Cc: communications@lwval.org <communications@lwval.org>; jjflowgoer@aol.com <jjflowgoer@aol.com>; caroleene@dobsonforalabama.com <caroleene@dobsonforalabama.com>; wayne@waynerogersforalsecretaryofstate.com <wayne@waynerogersforalsecretaryofstate.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 12:55:30 PM CDT
Subject: Fw: League of Women Voters Strongly Denounces President Trump’s False Claims About Election Security in National Address
Dear League of Women Voters of Mobile:
The national League of Women Voters issued the press release League of Women Voters Strongly Denounces President Trump’s False Claims About Election Security in National Address | League of Women Voters.
As the below forwarded correspondence with the League of Women Voters of Alabama indicates, I am trying to spread the press release in Alabama.
On its Facebook the League of Women Voters of Alabama is urging that Senators Tuberville and Britt be called and told to vote NO on the Save Act.
On July 17th, Caroleene Dobson, Republican candidate for Alabama Secretary of State, posted on her Facebook, "The evidence is CLEAR — we need common sense election security in every state, and we need it now. SECURE OUR ELECTIONS NOW!!! Pass the SAVE Act!"
I think League of Women Voters of Alabama and League of Women Voters of Mobile should publicize to Alabama TV stations and their viewers how opposite Caroleene Dobson is from the two Alabama Leagues of Women Voters regarding the SAVE Act and that Alabama voters should consider that in their voting decisions in November.
I further think that Wayne Rogers, the Democratic candidate for Alabama Secretary of State, should be involved with the publicizing.
For more information about the spreading in Alabama of the League of Women Voters press release, please look at my July 17th Facebook post and its comments.
If the League of Women Voters of Alabama and League of Women Voters of Mobile think I can help in publicizing this matter to Alabama TV stations and their viewers, please contact me.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Jjflowgoer <jjflowgoer@aol.com>
Cc: League of Women Voters of Alabama <communications@lwval.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 11:52:30 AM CDT
Subject: Re: League of Women Voters Strongly Denounces President Trump’s False Claims About Election Security in National Address
Thank you very much, Judy.
Please share and forward away my email as much as you wish.
I don't think I am on the state contact list. Please add me.
Rob Shattuck
---------
On Friday, July 17, 2026 at 09:32:21 PM CDT, Jjflowgoer <jjflowgoer@aol.com> wrote:
Rob - thank you for being concerned about this issue - and taking action. Our contact for our emails goes all over the state. I think we will send this out to all our members.
Are you on our state contact list?
We can also lift it with our social media.
Judy
LWVAL Communications Director

--------
On Friday, July 17, 2026 at 06:48:27 PM CDT, Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com> wrote:
Dear League of Women Voters of Alabama:
I am trying to spread in Alabama the press release that the national League of Women Voters issued at League of Women Voters Strongly Denounces President Trump’s False Claims About Election Security in National Address | League of Women Voters.
To do such spreading, I am copying on this email Republican and Democratic party organizations in Alabama.
Please give me any suggestions you have for me to do further spreading in Alabama of the press release.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook

Yesterday I added to my July 17th Facebook post a comment that linked the Hands Off Our Vote Initiative that is at https://indivisible.org/events/hands-off-our-vote-2/ and that tagged Dobson for Alabama Wayne Rogers for Secretary of State saying, "You need to debate the press release of the national League of Women Voters that is posted here and also the Hands Off Our Vote Initiative."

Was United States Senator Lindsey Graham a decent person?

Yesterday I was putting forth that Ammie Akin, who is running for Congress in the Alabama 7th Congressional district (Facebook), seemed a decent person to me, together with questions I had for her to please consider answering.

These questions were:
1. Should Alabama voters, in deciding whether to vote for you for the governmental leadership position and office you are seeking, consider relevant your views about anything concerning Donald Trump? What, if anything, do you wish to say to Alabama voters about Donald Trump?
2. What is your opinion of Donald Trump's honesty (or dishonesty) and truthfulness (or untruthfulness), compared to the honesty (or dishonesty) and truthfulness (or untruthfulness) of other politicians? How you think your opinion about Trump's honesty (or dishonesty) and truthfulness (or untruthfulness) will affect the opinion of Alabama voters about your own honesty and truthfulness.
3. Do you think Donald Trump foments anger, hate and division in the country? If so, do you approve of Donald Trump doing that? If you do not approve, will you say publicly you do not approve, and, if you are elected to the office you are seeking, will you do anything to try to reduce the anger, hate and division that Donald Trump foments.
4. Do you think Donald Trump has wrongfully weaponized the Department of Justice against his political opponents and against others who disagree with Trump? Do you see any risk of the Alabama Governor, Lt. Governor or Attorney General doing similarly with district attorneys and other law enforcement in Alabama?
5. Do you think Donald Trump has wrongfully used the Presidency to profit himself, his family and his friends? What assurances can you give Alabama voters that you will not wrongfully use the governmental office you are seeking to profit yourself, your family and your friends if you are elected?
6. Do you think Donald Trump can be trusted not to use his Anti-Fraud Task Force to target political opponents and other parties who support Trump's political opponents, and to be sparing with parties who are supportive of Trump? If you think that Trump cannot be so trusted with his Anti-Fraud Task Force, what will you do to try to change that if you are elected to the office you are seeking?
7. Do you think Trump has wrongfully abused his Presidential powers in how he has punished or threatened or otherwise economically coerced law firms, educational institutions, TV networks and other parties for the purpose of diminishing, silencing, or otherwise harming those parties, in order to advance Trump's personal and political interests?
8. Do you think Trump can be trusted not to use ICE wrongfully against Trump's political opponents, wrongfully to foment fear in the populace or wrongfully to interfere in the 2026 elections?
9. Do you think Trump is wrongfully corrupting the economy in how he awards commercial contracts and does other things related to the economy that favors corporations and other parties who support Trump personally and politically and that disfavors corporations and other parties who do not support Trump personally and politically?

The sudden death of United States Senator Lindsey Graham has shifted me this morning to ask, "Was Lindsey Graham a decent person?"

ON FACEBOOK

1. A Facebook friend of mine answered my question by saying, "NO, No he was not. The definition of a false prophet." In a reply comment, I said this to the friend, "I am trying to highlight the following: How much do decent people go into politics? How do decent people who go into politics keep their decency if they win elections and serve in office? How do voters tell which politicians and elected officials are decent people and which politicians and elected officials are indecent people? Do voters care about the extent to which their politicians and elected officials are decent or indecent people?"
2. Also on Facebook, I asked, "How should Alabama Congressional candidates message about Lindsey Graham? Clyde For Congress Amanda Pusczek for Alabama Lee McInnis for Alabama Jacob Bouma-Sims Keith Pilkington Maurice Mercer Ammie Akin for Congress Andrew Sneed for Congress David Wayne Perry"

3. A Facebook friend, who is also a personal friend, commented, "Shame on you. He served this country tirelessly and hasn’t been gone 12 hours. How can you let your hate for Trump destroy your compassion and empathy." I replied to this friend, "As indicated, yesterday I was putting out that Ammie Akin for Congress seemed a decent person, together with questions for her to consider answering. I have elaborated on the matter of decency with four questions I have asked in another comment here, to wit: How much do decent people go into politics? How do decent people who go into politics keep their decency if they win elections and serve in office? How do voters tell which politicians and elected officials are decent people and which politicians and elected officials are indecent people? Do voters care about the extent to which their politicians and elected officials are decent or indecent people?" In my view, central to the decency of politicians is how much they selfishly desire power for themselves and what they will do to gain, maintain and increase such power regardless of how much damage and harm they inflict on their society and its governance. Per Samuel Johnson, the prospect of death concentrates wonderfully the mind, and Lindsey Graham's death perhaps will concentrate the minds of many politicians as to what their own legacy will be as regards what they were willing to do to gain, maintain and increase their power regardless of how much damage and harm they inflicted on their society and its governance. If United States Senator Lindsey Graham was a decent person, I don't think he would object to, and would even find laudable, what this lowly citizen is attempting on the occasion of his death."