Ed Packard, veteran Alabama elections official and expert, passes away at 57

Ed Packard Passes Away at 57

Ed Packard retired from the Alabama Secretary’s Office in December 2021, wrapping up nearly 25 years in the realm of state elections.

He has died at the age of 57, with arrangements forthcoming.

In 1996, Packard became the first person in the country to receive a Master of Public Administration degree from Auburn University.

His career in election management began at Auburn from 1992 to 1996, where he played a key role in executing election programs through contracts with the Alabama Secretary’s office.

From spring 1996 to spring 1997, he served as an education and training specialist with the state Election Commission in Raleigh, North Carolina.

After that, he returned to Alabama and was appointed as the election administrator at the Alabama Secretary of State’s office in 1997. In 2007, he became the supervisor of voter registration, overseeing the statewide voter registration program.

Packard ran as the Democratic candidate for Secretary of State in 2006 but was defeated by the incumbent, Nancy Wally. He also lost the general election for state auditor to Beth Chapman.

In March 2013, he became the Director of State Elections at the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, and in 2017, he transitioned to the election division, concluding his career in December 2021.

He announced his candidacy for Alabama Secretary in the May 2022 Republican primary but did not succeed.

Former Secretary of State Beth Chapman remarked, “Ed Packard was a diligent state employee for two and a half decades. He was both a student and teacher concerning election and voter registration issues, providing customer service that was notably rare today, as he would return every call and thoroughly address issues.”

John Merrill, another former Secretary of State, shared his sadness upon hearing of Packard’s passing, noting that after over 20 years of service to Alabama, he had become an invaluable resource for local election officials. His contributions to the Secretary of State’s office were significant, and he expressed his heartfelt condolences to Packard’s family and loved ones.