Alabama voters approve school amendments on pledge, prayer and national anthem
Voters approved four constitutional amendments changing lieutenant governor vacancies, allowing county school mergers and establishing new public school requirements.
Alabama voters approved all four proposed statewide constitutional amendments Tuesday, according to unofficial returns. Amendment 2, which creates a process for neighboring county school systems to merge voluntarily, passed by the narrowest margin.
Amendment 1
Amendment 1 passed with 65.4 percent of the vote. It received 986,924 votes in favor and 521,954 against.
The amendment addresses vacancies in the lieutenant governor’s office. Under existing law, the office can remain vacant until the next statewide election, potentially leaving it unfilled for nearly four years.
The amendment requires a special election if the office becomes vacant during the first two years of a four-year term and more than 60 days before the next general election. The Senate president pro tempore would serve as lieutenant governor in the interim.
The amendment also allows the Legislature to set salaries for the lieutenant governor and legislative leaders through a joint resolution, which the governor cannot veto. For those positions, the change replaces a 2012 provision tying pay to Alabama’s median household income. The amendment also shifts responsibility for approving senators’ travel expenses from the lieutenant governor to an officer elected by the Senate.
Amendment 2
Amendment 2 passed with 50.9 percent of the vote. It received 759,239 votes in favor and 731,880 against. The measure failed in 30 counties.
The amendment allows two or more neighboring county school systems to merge voluntarily. State law already provides a process for city school systems to merge.
Participating county boards of education must agree on a plan covering issues such as debt, governance, school tax revenue and a timeline for the merger. The State Board of Education must publish a study examining the proposed merger’s impact.
If at least 25 percent of qualified voters in any participating school system file a written protest within 30 days, the proposal goes to voters in a referendum.
Amendment 3
Amendment 3 passed with 62.6 percent of the vote. It received 974,152 votes in favor and 582,838 against.
The amendment requires local boards of education to adopt policies on daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and on student-initiated, student-led prayer in public schools. Students must be allowed to opt out of either activity based on their personal beliefs. Policy violations must be reported to the local superintendent.
State law already requires public schools to hold a voluntary daily recitation of the pledge and permits student-led prayer. The amendment adds the requirement for local board policies on both activities to the state constitution.
Amendment 4
Amendment 4 passed with 58.6 percent of the vote. It received 908,787 votes in favor and 642,863 against.
The amendment requires local boards of education to adopt policies ensuring public K-12 schools play or perform the first stanza of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at least once a week during school hours.
Schools can meet the requirement by playing a recording from the Library of Congress or arranging a live performance by a school-sanctioned band, choir or vocalist.
Existing state law neither requires nor prohibits public schools from playing the national anthem. Schools cannot require students to take part in patriotic exercises.
