Secretary of State Wes Allen spoke to issues of voting integrity, high voting registration rates, and referenced what he called “spiritual warfare” in an address to the Madison County Republican Men’s Club at Trinity United Methodist Church on Saturday.

Allen began by acknowledging the difficulties faced by blue collar workers and stated his commitment to serving them.

“We work with taxpayers, we work for the taxpayers. It’s not the other way around, and that’s what was so ingrained in me as a probate judge,” said Allen.

Allen also spoke passionately of voting integrity, beginning by saying he took initiative in removing Alabama from online voter registration as believes that should not be handled at the federal level but within Alabama. Allen also expressed concern with voter registration forms sent through Medicaid and DHR after the recipients’ deaths.

“That’s a bad problem,” Allen said. “You know why? Because non-citizens come in contact with these two agencies.”

Allen also said that of 3.9M Alabama residents over 18, 3.7M are registered, putting Alabama’s rate of registered voters at 95%. Based on that Statistic, he asserted, “I don’t want to hear any of this talk about voter suppression. It’s all myths and lies. We make things available in Alabama.”

Allen also spoke to the importance of protecting the integrity of absentee ballots as many people rely on them, especially those with disabilities. Allen emphasized that weeding out pre-filled absentee ballots is a high priority of his as they are confusing and chaotic to voters.

Allen went on to allege that Voter Participation Centers are a tool of the Left rather than a non-partisan actor as many participants in these centers are registering Democratic. “Let me tell you the Left is working,” he said with regard to the centers. “We’re getting stacks back in into the secretary’s office. That’s what’s happening, so our party, our side needs to be focused as well on making sure everybody is registered to vote.”

Immediately following his emphasis on the importance of making sure all voters have equal opportunity to be heard, Allen likened politics to religion, calling opposition to the Republican Party evil.

“We are in spiritual warfare right now. It’s good versus evil. Every one of us in this room are in that battle. And we need to pray,” argued Allen.

Allen closed by reading “The Dash” by Linda Ellis, a poem about love, legacy, kindness, and respect.