Caroleene Dobson, the Republican nominee for Alabama Secretary of State, joins Alabama Policy Insights to talk about an office most voters only think about on Election Day — but one with far bigger implications for the state's economy and future. Raised on a farm in rural Monroe County and educated at Harvard and Baylor Law, Dobson brings a real estate and corporate law background to a role that has been traditionally filled by election administrators.

She lays out her plans to modernize the state's outdated business filing fees and website, position Alabama to capture corporate relocations fleeing Delaware, and stem the ”brain drain” of young Alabamians to cities like Atlanta and Nashville.

With respect to elections, Dobson outlines a proposed election integrity and security division, voter roll maintenance reforms, registrar training, expanded absentee access for shift workers, and lessons Alabama can borrow from Florida's election crimes unit. The conversation also covers campaign finance transparency, the murky role of the Secretary of State in municipal elections, and why she believes protecting Alabama's values has to go hand-in-hand with pursuing its growth.