Ballot Measures, March 3, 2020
Alabama voters decided 1 statewide ballot measure on March 3, 2020.
Ballot measures
| Measure | Description | Result |
|---|
| Amendment 1 | Changes to the state education board, including requiring members to be appointed by the governor | Failed (25.79% yes) |
General Election, November 3, 2020
Alabama held its general election on November 3, 2020, deciding the office of Public Service Commissioner (President).
Highlights
- Alabama voters started purging racist language from the 1901 constitution and approved 5 of 6 amendments, but turned down the one that would have reshaped oversight of the state's judges.
- Amendment 4 authorized the Legislature to recompile the constitution in its 2022 session, removing racist, repeated, and obsolete language. Voters had rejected similar proposals twice since 2000, and the document, amended 948 times, was the nation's longest. Lawmakers produced the rewrite, and in November 2022 voters ratified the recompiled constitution.
- Voters narrowly rejected Amendment 2, a multi-part rewrite of court administration. It would have let the full Supreme Court, rather than the chief justice, pick the administrative director of courts; enlarged the Judicial Inquiry Commission; and ended the Legislature's power to impeach judges. Former Chief Justice Roy Moore and the Alabama Eagle Forum urged a no vote. The related Amendment 3 passed, giving judges appointed to fill a vacancy at least two years before facing election.
- Amendment 1, stating that only U.S. citizens may vote, passed as a largely symbolic change. Amendment 5 and Amendment 6 applied "stand your ground" protections inside churches in Franklin and Lauderdale counties; sponsors put the county-specific versions on the ballot after a statewide bill looked headed for defeat for a third straight year.
- No legislative seats were on the ballot. On the Public Service Commission, Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (R) won another term as president, defeating Laura Casey (D) by about 24 points.
Legislature
- House (105 seats): 28 D, 77 R before the election, 28 D, 77 R after; control stayed with Republicans.
- Senate (35 seats): 8 D, 27 R before the election, 8 D, 27 R after; control stayed with Republicans.
Statewide races
Ballot measures
| Measure | Description | Result |
|---|
| Amendment 1 | States that only a U.S. citizen who is 18 years old or older can vote in Alabama | Passed (77.01% yes) |
| Amendment 2 | Makes changes to judicial law and court systems and procedures | Failed (48.94% yes) |
| Amendment 3 | 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 | Passed (64.84% yes) |
| Amendment 4 | Authorizes the state legislature during the 2022 regular session to recompile the Alabama Constitution and provide for its ratification | Passed (66.82% yes) |
| Amendment 5 | Provides for a "stand your ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Franklin county | Passed (71.61% yes) |
| Amendment 6 | Provides for a "stand your ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Lauderdale county | Passed (71.61% yes) |