Former Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill is no longer on the ballot, but he has not stepped away from public life.

Instead, Merrill says his focus remains much the same as it was during his time as the state’s top elections official. Service, he said, is not tied to a title.

“I would want my story to focus on the work that I have done for our state to try to improve the quality of life for all of our people,” Merrill said during a recent interview. “And also trying to be a good husband and a good daddy and someone that could be relied on.”

Since leaving office in January 2023, Merrill has transitioned into the private sector, first working with an engineering firm to expand its presence across Alabama. That role allowed him to continue something he has long emphasized: staying connected to communities across all 67 counties.

He has since shifted full-time to his own firm, Morning in Alabama Consulting, where he advises clients on issues ranging from election security to regulatory and tax concerns, both in Montgomery and Washington.

Merrill said the work reflects the same priorities he championed in office, particularly around election integrity and limited government.

“We wanted to make it easy to vote, hard to cheat,” he said, referencing a phrase often associated with his tenure. He added that good government, in his view, means reducing barriers while ensuring essential services are delivered effectively.

Even outside elected office, Merrill said his guiding principle has not changed.

“My biggest priority is trying to be the best person that I can be to serve the people that have confidence in me,” he said. “But also being a good husband, being a good daddy, being a good friend and being the person that the Lord has called me to be.”

His commitment to service fueled speculation about a possible return to politics, particularly after he was encouraged by supporters to consider another statewide run in 2026.

Merrill does not rule out a possible future return to public office.

“If I can best serve our people by being in elective office again, then I will offer myself as a candidate,” he said. “If not, then I want to continue to try to find a way to serve whatever that is and wherever I am.”