Voters Reject Amendment One

Voters Reject Amendment One

By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

ALABAMA — On Tuesday, Alabama voters vehemently rejected a proposed statewide amendment that would have ceded the election of state school board members to appointments by the Governor. If it had succeeded, school board members would have been subject to confirmation by the Alabama Senate and serve six-year terms.

"Amendment One was a bold and ambitious effort to transform our state's public schools," said Governor Kay Ivey in a statement, provided by her press secretary, Gina Maiola. "However, it appears the fear of losing the right to elect our State School Board members was greater than the confidence we had that fundamental change could be made." 

Nearly 75 percent of voters rejected the amendment, according to uncertified results. 

In DeKalb County, the proposed amendment failed by a margin of 10,962 (80.31%) votes against it compared to the 2,687 (19.69%) votes in its favor. 

"Amendment one is not where her [Governor Ivey] plans for education stop, and you'll see her [Governor Ivey] continue to be more innovative and creative with her approach to improving Alabama," the statement concluded.

Alabama is one of 11 states, along with the District of Columbia, that still elect state school board members. 

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