Alabama ballot news
From Ballotpedia
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| Propositions • | Recall | • Law |
Here you'll find a collection of ballot news stories from Alabama.
Alabama may incorporate initiative & referendum
MONTGOMERY, Alabama: Representative Mike Ball may introduce legislation in the 2010 session to make Alabama the 25th initiative and referendum state. Ball has introduced legislation calling for this in past regular sessions, introducing HB279 in 2009, and may do the same when legislature meets again.
Initiative and referendum would allow the voters in Alabama to introduce proposed ballot measures and send them to a statewide ballot after following appropriate procedures such as obtaining the required amount of signatures.[1]
Alabama ballot access case is appealed
MONTGOMERY, Alabama: Andy Shugart, who filed a ballot access case in the state of Alabama, appealed to the Eleventh Circuit on August 21, 2009. The ballot access case is in regards to the number of signatures needed in Alabama for an independent candidate to appear on the ballot for the United States House of Representatives. Currently, the state requires more signatures for a U.S. House independent candidate than it does for an independent candidate for president.[2]
According to Shugart's attorney: "It doesn't make a lot of sense, except to exclude people from the ballot. It's why you usually don't see anyone on the ballot in Alabama except Democrats and Republicans."[3]
Henry County revises school tax measure
HENRY COUNTY, Alabama: Last week Henry County decided to place a proposed tax referendum on hold so that the school board can revise the ballot measure's language. In light of the state's current budget, the school board argues that the tax, one-mill ad valorem tax, is necessary to continue funding several school projects, primarily the school district's NJROTC program. Jo Ann Smith, probate judge and commission chair, said the revision is necessary to ensure that if approved, the money raised could be spent for other things in case NJROTC was ever disbanded. Last year the current tax, which is set to expire in October 2009, was not re-approved. The tax required a supermajority of voters but fell short.[4]
Hartselle school board referendum may still proceed
HARTSELLE, Alabama: A split 4-1 vote on a plan to change the way Hartselle chooses school board members doesn’t mean the referendum on the issue is closed. In a letter to Mayor Dwight Tankersley, Rep. Ronald Grantland, D-Hartselle, encouraged the council to set a referendum to allow for an elected school board, a reverse in a long-standing policy that required a unanimous council vote for legislative delegation action.[5]
Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said he’s willing to look at the request and does not rule out holding a referendum.
“It’s definitely open for discussion,” Orr said
There are 67 county school systems and 66 city school systems in Alabama. The county school systems are required by state law to have an elected board. For city school systems, having an elected board is optional. So far, only 20 of the 66 city systems have chosen the elected-board option.[6]
Casino amendment possible for June 2010 ballot
Alabama: Marcel Black of the Alabama House of Representatives has proposed an Alabama Electronic Bingo Amendment (2010) for the June 2010 ballot in Alabama. To make that ballot, 63 of the state's 104 members of Alabama House of Representatives and 21 of the 32 senators in the Alabama Senate will have to vote to put it on the ballot. The measure would authorize fourteen gambling centers to operate electronic bingo in nine counties. The proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution would also create a State Gaming Commission and impose a state tax on electronic bingo.[7]
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