Amendments on ballot

During the election on Nov. 3, Marion County residents will notice that six new state Amendments will be on the ballot.

These are new  proposed amendments that will effect the state’s constitution.
Amendment 1 would grant the right to vote to “only” those U.S. citizens who meet the requirements, as opposed to “every U.S. citizen who meets the requirements
If approved, the change in the state’s constitution would be to replace wording that the constitution grants the right to vote for “every” U.S. citizen who meets the requirements, to it grants the right to vote for “only” those U.S. citizens who meet the requirements.
The amendment does not change state voting requirements as it is already a federal requirement to be a U.S. citizen to vote.
Amendment 2 makes changes to the state’s judicial system, including a change that would allow Alabama Supreme Court to appoint the Administrative Director of Courts, instead of the Chief Justice.
The amendment would also increase the Judicial Inquiry Commission from nine members to 11 and would  allow the serving Governor to appoint a member of the Court of the Judiciary, rather than the Lieutenant Governor.
If approved, it would also prevent automatic disqualification from holding public offices for a judge solely because a complaint was filed with the Judiciary Inquiry Commission. Additionally, it would provide that a judge can be removed from office only by the Court of the Judiciary.
Amendment 3 changes the initial term of a judge that is appointed to fill a vacancy due to death, resignation, retirement, or removal.
Under current law, the initial term of office for a person appointed to fill a vacancy in a judgeship lasts until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election held after the person has completed one year in office or the remainder of the original term of the judge elected to the office which is vacant, whichever is longer.
Under this amendment, a judge appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve an initial term lasting until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election held after the person has completed two years in office.
At the election, the judicial office shall be filled for a full term.
Amendment 4 would allow the Alabama Legislature, when it meets in 2022, to draft a rearranged version of the state constitution.
This draft would remove racist language and  combine repetitive language. No other changes could be made.
Amendment 5 and 6 changes Alabama’s “Stand Your Ground” law that would affect only Franklin and Lauderdale Counties. The current law allows a person to legally use physical force against another person under certain conditions. The law does not require the person to retreat before using physical force.
If a majority of voters in Alabama vote “yes” on Amendment 5 and 6,  the state constitution would contain a special “Stand Your Ground” law that applies to churches in Franklin and Lauderdale Counties only.