Alabama 2020 ballot measures
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- Election date: Nov. 3
- Registration deadline(s): Oct. 19
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Recount laws
- Early voting starts: N/A
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 2 (postmarked); Nov. 3 (received)
- Processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots
- Voter ID: Photo ID
- Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Seven statewide ballot measures were certified for the 2020 ballot in the state of Alabama. One measure was defeated on March 3, 2020. The remaining six measures appeared on the November 3 ballot, of which five were approved and one was defeated.
HIGHLIGHTS
On the ballot
March 3, 2020:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Education | Changes to the state education board, including requiring members to be appointed by the governor |  |
November 3, 2020:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Suffrage | States that only a U.S. citizen who is 18 years old or older can vote in Alabama |  |
| LRCA | Amendment 2 | State judiciary | Makes changes to judicial law and court systems and procedures | |
| LRCA | Amendment 3 | State judiciary | Provide that a judge, other than a probate judge, appointed to fill a vacancy would serve an initial term until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election after the judge has completed two years in office | |
| LRCA | Amendment 4 | Constitutional language | Authorizes the state legislature during the 2022 regular session to recompile the Alabama Constitution and provide for its ratification | |
| LRCA | Amendment 5 | Firearms | Provides for a "stand your ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Franklin county | |
| LRCA | Amendment 6 | Firearms | Provides for a "stand your ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Lauderdale county | |
Summary of campaign contributions
- See also: Ballot measure campaign finance, 2020
| Ballot Measure | Support Contributions | Oppose Contributions | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Amendment 1, Appointed Education Board Amendment (March 2020) | $476,500.00 | $0.00 |
|
| Alabama Amendment 1, Citizenship Requirement for Voting Measure (2020) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
|
| Alabama Amendment 2, Judicial System Restructuring Measure (2020) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
|
| Alabama Amendment 3, Judicial Vacancies Measure (2020) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
|
| Alabama Amendment 4, Authorize Legislature to Recompile the State Constitution Measure (2020) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
|
| Alabama Amendment 5, "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Franklin County Churches Measure (2020) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
|
| Alabama Amendment 6, "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Lauderdale County Churches Measure (2020) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
|
Getting measures on the ballot
As of 2020, Alabama state law did not allow for initiatives or referendums; therefore, all measures must be referred to the ballot by the Alabama Legislature. The state's 2019 legislative session lasted from March 5 through June 18, 2019, during which time constitutional amendments were placed on the ballot by the legislature. The legislature may also refer amendments during its 2020 legislative session.
According to Article 18 of the Alabama Constitution, both houses of the Alabama State Legislature are required to pass a proposed constitutional amendment by a three-fifths or 60 percent vote in order to send it to the statewide election ballot. If the amendment is approved by a simple majority of the voters, it becomes part of the state constitution.
Referral of 2020 constitutional amendments
The following table illustrates the vote requirements for the constitutional amendments certified for the ballot, the votes the amendment received, and how Democrats and Republicans voted on the amendment in each legislative chamber:
| Alabama Authorize Legislature to Recompile the State Constitutition Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 21 | Yes votes: 30 (85.71%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 6; No: 0 | Yes: 24; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 63 | Yes votes: 97 (93.27%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 25; No: 0 | Yes: 72; No: 0 |
| Alabama Appointed Education Board Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 21 | Yes votes: 30 (85.71%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 5; No: 0 | Yes: 25; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 63 | Yes votes: 78 (75.00%) | No votes: 21 (20.19%) | Yes: 8; No: 18 | Yes: 70; No: 3 |
| Alabama Citizen Requirement for Voting Measure | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 21 | Yes votes: 27 (77.14%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 5; No: 0 | Yes: 22; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 63 | Yes votes: 87 (83.65%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 12; No: 0 | Yes: 75; No: 0 |
| Alabama Judicial System Restructuring Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 21 | Yes votes: 28 (80.00%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 6; No: 0 | Yes: 22; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 63 | Yes votes: 92 (88.5%) | No votes: 6 (5.8%) | Yes: 26; No: 0 | Yes: 66; No: 6 |
| Alabama Judicial Vacancies Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 21 | Yes votes: 27 (77.14%) | No votes: 4 (11.43%) | Yes: 7; No: 0 | Yes: 20; No: 4 |
| House: | Required: 63 | Yes votes: 97 (93.27%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 24; No: 0 | Yes: 73; No: 0 |
| Alabama "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Franklin County Churches Measure | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 21 | Yes votes: 27 (77.14%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 5; No: 0 | Yes: 22; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 63 | Yes votes: 65 (62.5%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 8; No: 0 | Yes: 57; No: 0 |
| Alabama "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Lauderdale County Churches Measure | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 21 | Yes votes: 25 (71.43%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 5; No: 0 | Yes: 20; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 63 | Yes votes: 81 (77.88%) | No votes: 4 (3.85%) | Yes: 13; No: 4 | Yes: 68; No: 0 |
Not on the ballot
| Type | Bill number | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | SB 220 | Establish Statewide Lottery Amendment | Gambling | Authorizes a statewide lottery in Alabama; requires legislature to pass laws implementing the program | 
|
| LRCA | HB 282 | Bail Amendment | Civil and criminal trials | Provides that anyone accused of a crime may be allowed bail unless they are charged with a Class A felony |
|
| LRCA | HB 178 | Reprieves and Commutations Amendment | Civil and criminal trials | Requires the governor, before granting reprieves or commutations, to notify the attorney general and the victim's family; allows a victim's family to challenge a commutation or reprieve |
|
| LRCA | HB 81 | Conditions for Detention Without Bail Amendment | Civil and criminal trials | Allows people accused of Class A felonies to be held without bail under certain circumstances |
|
Historical facts
- A total of 95 measures appeared on statewide ballots in Alabama from 1998 to 2018.
- From 1998 to 2018, the number of measures on statewide ballots during even-numbered years ranged from four to 15.
- Between 1998 and 2018, an average of eight measures appeared on the ballot in Alabama during even-numbered election years.
- Between 1998 and 2018, about 81 percent (72 of 89) of the total number of measures that appeared on statewide ballots during even-numbered years were approved, and about 19 percent (17 of 89) were defeated.
State profile
| Demographic data for Alabama | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 4,853,875 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 50,645 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 68.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 26.4% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.2% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 1.7% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 84.3% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 23.5% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $43,623 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 23.3% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Alabama. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Alabama
Alabama voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More Alabama coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Alabama
- United States congressional delegations from Alabama
- Public policy in Alabama
- Endorsers in Alabama
- Alabama fact checks
- More...
See also
- 2020 ballot measures
- List of Alabama ballot measures
- History of Initiative & Referendum in Alabama
- Campaign finance requirements for Alabama ballot measures
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