It’s awesome that you’re going out to vote today, but if you’re thinking the ballot is just going to allow you to chose our next President, you’re going to be shocked.  We here in Alabama have to vote on FOURTEEN statewide amendments.  If you don’t know what you’re voting for that can be a really bad thing.

You are allowed to bring papers into the voting area to help you out.  Copy these definitions and print them out.  This way you can take them with you when you vote and you’ll be better educated as to what you’re voting for.

Here’s a brief explanation of what each amendment is all about.  FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION CLICK HERE.

AMENDMENT 1 – This will add two “at-large” members to the Auburn University Board of Trustees

AMENDMENT 2 – This stops the government from taking money that is supposed to go to state parks and moving it to other areas.

AMENDMENT 3 – This amendment gets rid of the Local Constitutional Amendment Commission.  It then sets us a two-step process in the Legislature.  It basically changes the way laws are made and passed.

AMENDMENT 4 – Gives counties the authority to approve programs and policies they see fit for themselves WITHOUT getting approval by state Legislature first.

AMENDMENT 5 – Basically this repeals and restates the parts of the constitution on the separation of powers of the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

AMENDMENT 6 – This repeals and replaces Article 7 of the constitution.  It sets a requirement of a 2/3rds vote in the Senate in order to remove an official from office.

AMENDMENT 7 – This is only for Etowah County – It places most of the employees of the Etowah County Sheriff under control of a sheriff’s department personnel board.  This help allow easier pay raises for employees.

AMENDMENT 8 – This puts Alabama’s “right-to-work” law into the state constitution.  It says that a person can’t be denied employment because they’re a member of a labor union…or because they’re not a member of a labor union.  It also says a person can’t be required to pay dues to a labor union as a condition of their employment.
AMENDMENT 9 – Applies only to Pickens County – It creates and exception to the prohibition on the election or appointment of a judge after they turn 70.  It also allows election or appointment of a probate judge in Pickens County up to age 75.
AMENDMENT 10 – Applies to Calhoun County – Says that no territory in Calhoun County would be subject to the police jurisdiction or planning jurisdiction of any city not located in the county.  Cities can have police jurisdictions that go three miles outside their limits and planning jurisdictions that extend five miles.

AMENDMENT 11 – Allows cities and counties more discretion under a law passed in 2013 that was called “Major 21st Century Manufacturing Zone Act.”  The law allows cities and counties to acquire and redevelop land that is suitable for manufacturing facilities, under certain circumstances.  The local governments can then sell those properties to private individuals.

AMENDMENT 12 – Allows Legislature to pass laws to allow cities in Baldwin County to build and operate toll roads and bridges.  This does NOT create any toll road or toll bride authorities, but it does give the Legislature the authority to do that for cities in Baldwin County.

AMENDMENT 13 – Repeals age limits for elections or appointments of public officials, with the exception of the age limit of 70 for judges.

AMENDMENT 14 – It’s supposed to validate hundreds of local laws that are already in place.  In 1984, voters approved Amendment 448, which says passing the state budgets is the paramount duty of the Legislature and requires lawmakers to pass the budgets before other bills.  Amendment 448 allowed for exceptions.

FOR A MORE THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF THESE AMENDMENTS CLICK HERE