Alabama Broadcast The Star-Spangled Banner in Public Schools Amendment (2026)
| Alabama Broadcast The Star-Spangled Banner in Public Schools Amendment | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Public education governance and State flags, symbols, and holidays |
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| Status On the ballot |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
The Alabama Broadcast The Star-Spangled Banner in Public Schools Amendment is on the ballot in Alabama as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.
A "yes" vote supports amending the Alabama Constitution to require all public schools to broadcast or arrange for the performance of the first stanza of the Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week. |
A "no" vote opposes amending the Alabama Constitution to require all public schools to broadcast or arrange for the performance of the first stanza of the Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week. |
Overview
What would the amendment do?
The amendment would require all public schools to broadcast or arrange for the performance of the first stanza of the Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The official ballot title is as follows:[1]
| “ | Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to require local boards of education to adopt policies requiring each public K-12 school to broadcast or sanction the performance of the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week during school hours.[2] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the amendment can be read here.
Path to the ballot
A 60% vote is required from both chambers of the Alabama State Legislature during one legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 63 votes in the Alabama House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Alabama State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Senate Bill 5 (2026)
The following is a timeline of the amendment in the state legislature:[3]
- February 5, 2026: State Sen. Gerald Allen (R-21) introduced the measure to the state Senate as Senate Bill 5 (SB5).
- March 3, 2026: The Alabama State Senate approved SB5 in a vote of 23-5. Twenty-three Republicans voted yes, and five Democrats voted no. Four Republicans and three Democrats did not vote.
- April 9, 2026: The Alabama House of Representatives approved SB5 in a vote of 75-27. Seventy-four Republicans and one Democrat voted yes, and 27 Democrats voted no. Two Republicans and one Democrat did not vote.
Learn more about the ballot measures PDI →
| Votes Required to Pass: 21 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 23 | 5 | 7 |
| Total % | 65.7% | 14.3% | 20.0% |
| Democratic (D) | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Republican (R) | 23 | 0 | 4 |
| Votes Required to Pass: 63 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 75 | 27 | 3 |
| Total % | 71.4% | 25.7% | 2.9% |
| Democratic (D) | 1 | 27 | 1 |
| Republican (R) | 74 | 0 | 2 |
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Alabama
See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Alabama.
See also
View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Alabama.
Explore Alabama's ballot measure history, including constitutional amendments.
Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Alabama Legislature, "Senate Bill 5 Text," accessed April 10, 2026
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Alabama Legislature, "Bill History for SB5," accessed April 10, 2026 (Search Term: SB5)
- ↑ The Alabama Legislature, "Ala. Code § 17-9-6," accessed November 24, 2025
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "2024 Voter Guide," accessed November 24, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Alabama Secretary of State, "Voter Registration General Information," accessed January 27, 2026
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed November 24, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed November 24, 2025
- ↑ The Alabama Legislature, "Ala. Code § 31-13-28," accessed January 27, 2026
- ↑ Phone conversation between Amée LaTour and Jeff Elrod, supervisor of voter registration with the Alabama Secretary of State office.
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "State of Alabama Voter Registration Form," accessed November 24, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Florida's law takes effect on January 1, 2027
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Mobile ID Locations," accessed November 24, 2025
