Voters will go to the polls on November 8 to elect their state, federal, and county leaders. Alabama voters will also decide what constitution they will live under for the next four years. There are a number of proposed amendments to the historic 1901 Constitution of Alabama for voters to consider. Amendment Four would forbid changes to election law within six months of any Alabama election.
State Rep. Jim Carns carried the bill on the floor of the House.
“This would keep the supermajority from passing a law that would benefit the supermajority within six months of an election,” Carns said. “This is to prevent this from happening in the future, and we do a lot of things to prevent things in the future.”
A number of House Democrats opposed the bill.
“I don’t see the need for this bill,” State Rep. Juandalynn Givan said. “You all are going to have a supermajority for a while. I continue to say that we are one second away from Jim Crow.”
Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Paul DeMarco supports ratification of Amendment 4.
“If approved by voters, in the future, Alabama lawmakers would have to enact any changes to election law at least six months before any election that may be affected by the new statute,” explained DeMarco. “This amendment was proposed by State Representative Jim Carns after the 2020 presidential election. Some laws governing how votes could be considered or counted were changed around the country close to the last election. Just as in football, the rules of the game should not be changed while they are playing.”
“Election laws should be no different, so voters have confidence in the integrity of the results,” DeMarco continue. “It is not fair to candidates or voters when the law governing access to the ballots are altered so close to the days the polls open. Hopefully, this Amendment will pass in November to go into effect before the next set of elections.”
The text of Amendment 4 stated, “Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended; to provide that the implementation date for any bill enacted by the Legislature in a calendar year in which a general election is to be held and relating to the conduct of the general election shall be at least six months before the general election. (Proposed by Act 2021-284).”
“State Amendment 4, if approved, provides that the implementation date for any legislative bill passed in a calendar year in which a general election is to be held and relating to the conduct of the general election shall be at least six months before the general election,” Secretary of State John Merrill wrote on Twitter.
This amendment was introduced as House Bill 388 by Carns. On April 6, 2021, the House voted in favor 75 to 24. The Senate passed the amendment on April 22, 2021, in a 25 to 4 vote.
Election integrity has been a major point of discussion since the 2020 election and those disputed results.
The general election is on November 8. Voters need to bring a valid photo ID with them in order to participate in the election.
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