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36 more amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot
When Alabamians vote on Nov. 3, they will not only choose candidates for state and federal office but will also decide whether to add 36 more amendments to the Alabama Constitution. Even after it was slimmed down and reorganized in 2022, Alabama’s constitution remains the longest in the nation, four times the length of Texas’s.
Four amendments go before voters statewide. The first two deal with the structure of state government, the kind of subject constitutions typically address. The other two would require every local school board to adopt specific policies, details that other states usually handle in law or regulation.
The remaining 32 are local amendments. Because Alabama’s constitution tightly limits what state and local governments can do, especially on taxes, changes that other states make by law often require a constitutional amendment here. At the same time, Alabama’s Constitution is permissive in that each county can amend its own corner of the constitution through a vote of its residents. About two-thirds of the constitution addresses local matters.
Amendment 1: Lieutenant Governor vacancies and legislative pay
Today, a vacancy in the lieutenant governor’s office stays open until the next statewide election, which could be nearly four years away. Amendment 1 would require a special election if the office becomes vacant in the first two years of a term and more than 60 days before the next general election. The Senate president pro tempore would serve in the meantime.
Arguably more significant, the amendment would let the Legislature set the pay of the lieutenant governor and legislative officers by joint resolution, not subject to the governor’s veto. That would replace, for those leadership offices, the 2012 rule tying legislative pay to the state’s median household income. It would also shift approval of senators’ travel expenses from the lieutenant governor to an officer elected by the Senate.
Act 2026-341 (SB 271), sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan.
Amendment 2: A path for merging county school systems
Alabama has a process for merging city school systems but none for county systems. Amendment 2 would create a voluntary framework for two or more neighboring county boards of education to consolidate. It would not require or start any merger.
Participating boards would have to agree on a plan covering debt, governance, school tax revenue and a timeline, and the State Board of Education would publish an impact study. If 25% of qualified voters in any participating system protest within 30 days, the merger would go to a referendum. Declining enrollment and higher administrative costs in small systems, $1,083 per pupil versus $471 in large ones, may prompt some districts to explore the option.
Act 2026-378 (HB 380), sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins.
Amendment 3: Pledge of Allegiance and student-led prayer
Amendment 3 would require every local school board to adopt two policies: a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and authorization of student-initiated, student-led prayer. Both policies must let students opt out based on their beliefs. Policy violations would be reported to the local superintendent.
State law already requires a voluntary daily Pledge (Act 2019-241) and authorizes student-led prayer (Section 16-1-20). PARCA notes that boards drafting prayer policies will need to follow U.S. Supreme Court precedent, avoiding school endorsement of religion or prayers led by employees at official school functions.
Act 2026-379 (HB 511), sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram.
Amendment 4: The national anthem in schools
Amendment 4 would require local school boards to adopt policies for each public K-12 school to broadcast or perform the first stanza of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at least once a week during school hours. Schools could use a Library of Congress recording or a live performance by a school-sanctioned band, choir, or vocalist.
Current law neither requires nor prohibits playing the anthem. The amendment sets no rules for student participation, and public schools cannot compel students to take part in patriotic exercises. Some lawmakers objected to placing the requirement in the constitution rather than in state law, where it could be changed more easily.
Act 2026-424 (SB 5), sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen.
Read the full analysis
PARCA’s full report covers each amendment in more depth, including state-by-state comparisons of lieutenant governor succession and legislative salaries, school consolidation data, and the court cases behind the Pledge and prayer provisions. Read An Analysis of the Proposed Statewide Amendments for the 2026 General Election here.
For the first time, PARCA has also created a mapping tool to determine what local amendments will be on your ballot. Click here to access the tool.