Statewide amendments information

In addition to the school tax renewals for Phenix City Schools and the Russell County School District, Alabama voters will see two statewide amendments on the May 19 Primary ballots. Lee County’s ballot does not include a comparable local tax amendment, focusing instead on the statewide constitutional questions along with party primary races. 

Alabama does not allow citizen-initiated ballot measures, meaning all constitutional amendments must first be approved by the legislature before being submitted to voters. As a result, both statewide proposals on the primary ballot originated through legislative action before reaching voters for final approval.

As an additional note, voters who vote at the Russell County Courthouse Atrium, located at Broad Street and Dillingham St. in Phenix City, will see a change. Because of the commission’s renovation project to the atrium floor and chambers, voters will enter through the main doors and be guided left and  into the Probate Judge’s courtroom, where they will cast their votes. 

Amendment 1

Amendment 1 would expand the list of crimes for which judges can deny bail, adding offenses such as discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling and solicitation, attempt, or conspiracy to commit murder. The proposal builds on “Aniah’s Law,” a 2022 voter-approved reform that already allows bail denial for certain violent crimes.

Supporters of Amendment 1 argue the measure is necessary to improve public safety and close gaps in the current bail system. They say individuals accused of serious and potentially dangerous crimes should not automatically qualify for release before trial, and that judges should have broader authority to detain defendants who pose a threat. 

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Critics, however, raise concerns about due process and the presumption of innocence, warning that expanding the list of non-bailable offenses could result in more defendants being held in jail before trial without a conviction and increase pressure on local jail systems.

Amendment 2

Amendment 2, the second statewide proposal, addresses compensation for prosecutors. The measure would prohibit decreasing a district attorney’s salary during their term in office, a change that would amend the Alabama Constitution if approved by voters. District attorneys in Alabama serve six-year terms, and their compensation is currently set by state law. 

Supporters of Amendment 2 argue the proposal would protect the independence and stability of prosecutors by preventing salary reductions during their term. They say guaranteeing consistent pay helps attract and retain qualified attorneys and shields the office from political or financial pressure that could arise from budget decisions. 

Opponents of Amendment 2, while less formally organized, have raised concerns about limiting the state’s budget flexibility. Critics argue that locking salaries into the constitution could make it more difficult for lawmakers to adjust spending during economic downturns or respond to changing fiscal conditions. 

The May 19 primary is part of Alabama’s broader 2026 election cycle, with additional constitutional amendments and statewide races expected to appear on the November general election ballot.