Clarke County Democrat

Voters will also decide 11 state constitutional amendments Nov. 6





The backside of the Nov. 6 General Election ballot is filled with 11 constitutional amendments. Voters will be asked to vote the amendments up or down — “Yes” or “No.”

Proponents of constitutional reform in Alabama have plenty of ammunition on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot. Eleven amendments crowd the ballot for voters approval

Some of the amendments have statewide application but voters will also be called upon to create a landmark district in Stockton, in Baldwin County, to address a transfer of assets and liabilities from the Prichard water board to the Mobile water system and housekeeping matters in Lawrence County.

Alabama’s constitution is so constricting that little can be done without amending the constitution. Cities and counties are especially limited.

As a result, there are 829 amendments and they constitute about 90 percent of the length of the nation’s longest state constitution. Over 70 percent of the ordinances pertain to individual cities and counties.

Here’s a rundown of the amendments on the ballot Nov. 6:

No. 1: Would extend the Forever Wild by reauthorizing it for a 20- year period.

No. 2: Would allow the issuance by the state of certain bonds not to exceed $750 million and would replace the maximum aggregate principal limitations currently in Sections 219.04 and 219.041 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901.

No. 3: Relates to Baldwin County by proposing an amendment to define the Stockton Landmark District and to prohibit the annexation by local law of any property within the district into any municipality.

No. 4: Would repel portions of Amendment 111 relating to separation of schools by race and repeal Amendment 90 and 108 relating to the poll tax.

No. 5: Would provide for the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the Prichard Water Works Board to the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners of the city of Mobile, presently known as the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.

No. 6: Would prohibit any person, employer or health care provider from being compelled to participate in any health care system.

No. 7: Would amend Section 177 of the Constitution to provide that the right of individuals to vote for public office, public votes on referenda or votes of employee representation by secret ballot is fundamental.

No. 8: Deals with legislative compensation and would repeal laws dealing with compensation and expenses and fix the salary of legislators and set the legislative salaries at the median household income level in Alabama. It would allow the legislators to sign vouchers for reimbursement of expenses and prevent the legislature from increasing their salary or expenses.

No. 9: Proposing an amendment to continue the authority of the legislature to pass general laws pertaining to corporations and other entities; to continue its authority to regulate and impose a business privilege tax on corporations and other entities and to repeal various provisions concerning private corporations, railroads and canals.

No. 10: Relates to banks and banking and repeals or amends several sections of the current constitution, including Sections 247, 255.01 and 232.

No. 11: Relating to Lawrence County and proposing to prohibit any municipality located entirely outside Lawrence County from imposing any ordinance or regulation in Lawrence County.



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