Alabama Voters will decide in 2020 whether to Amend the State Constitution to State that "only a citizen of the United States," rather than "every citizen of the United States," has the Right to Vote in Alabama.
Joshua Jones of Citizen Voters, a Group Advocating for similar Amendments in other States, said "Most people don’t realize cities around the country are already opening municipal elections to non-citizen voters. This constitutional amendment will ensure that trend never comes to Alabama.”
Senate President Del Marsh (R-12th District) introduced the Amendment.
The State Senate Approved it Unanimously with Eight Members: Three Democrats, and Five Republicans Abstaining.
The State House also Passed the Measure Unanimously with 14 Democratic Members Abstaining and Three Members: Two Democrats and One Republican, Absent or Not Voting.
Republicans have a 27-8 Majority in the State Senate and a 76-28 Majority in the State House.
Voters in North Dakota Approved a similar Initiative in 2018. Measure 2 Amended the North Dakota Constitution to State that “only a citizen” rather than "every citizen" of the U.S. can Vote in Federal, State, and Local Elections. It Passed by a Vote of 66% to 34%. Similar Initiatives have been Proposed in Colorado and Florida Targeting the 2019 and 2020 Ballots, respectively.
Neither Alabama nor any of the State's Local Jurisdictions currently allow Non-Citizens to Vote in Elections. Congress Passed a Law in 1996 Prohibiting Non-Citizens from Voting in Federal Elections, such as for: President, the U.S. House, or U.S. Senate, but did Not Address State or Local Elections.
San Francisco and several Local Governments in Maryland have Permitted Non-Citizens to Vote in certain Local Elections.
During this year’s Legislative Session, the Alabama Legislature referred a Total of Five Constitutional Amendments to the 2020 Ballot. The Legislature may also Approve Constitutional Amendments during its 2020 Session which Voters will also decide in 2020. In Alabama, a 60% Vote is needed in each Chamber of the Legislature to refer a Constitutional Amendment to the Ballot for Voter Consideration.
The Legislature may also refer Additional Amendments to the 2020 Ballot during that year’s Legislative Session.
Since 1997, the Legislature has placed an Average of Eight Measures per year on the Ballot in Even-numbered years and 81% have been Approved during this time.
According to Law Professor Susan Pace Hamill, in an Article on the Encyclopedia of Alabama, the Alabama State Constitution has been Amended more than 800 times since 1901 and is the Longest Constitution in the world.
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