Alabama Amendment 1 was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that will appear on the ballot in the US state of Alabama on November 5, 2024, concurrent with the 2024 United States elections. When passed, the amendment allowed the Franklin County Board of Education to manage, sell, or lease land in the Franklin County school system.
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Allow Franklin County Board of Education to Manage, Sell, or Lease Land in the Franklin County School System Amendment | |||||||||||||||||||
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Yes: 90–100% 80–90% 70–80% 60–70% 50–60%
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Text
editProposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to grant certain sixteenth section and indemnity school land that is owned in fee simple by the Franklin County school system, is located in Fayette County and Walker County, and is for the exclusive use of schools in the Franklin County School System to the Franklin County Board of Education; and to provide for the distribution of any proceeds and interest generated by this land to the Franklin County Board of Education. (Proposed by Act 2024-301)[1]
Background
editFranklin County Schools owns land that is described as Sixteenth Section land due to being located between Highway 13 and Interstate 22, which means that only the Alabama Department of Conservation is able to manage, lease, or sell this land. This amendment would allow Franklin County Schools to sell, lease, and control the land, along with timber, minerals, or natural resources. It will be a statewide amendment due to the affected land falling in multiple county lines.[2] The two other counties that it falls in are Fayette County and Walker County.[3]
The Alabama Fair Ballot Commission agreed to the language of the amendment on the ballot on June 20.[3]
The legislation was supported by State Representative Jamie Kiel.[4]
Legislative voting
editThe amendment was approved by the Alabama House of Representatives on April 9, 2024, with 72 in favor, 0 in opposition, and 31 abstentions. It was then approved by the Alabama Senate on May 8, 2024, with 35 in favor, 0 in opposition, and 0 abstentions.[5]
Endorsements
edit- Statewide representatives
- Jamie Kiel, state representative from the 18th district (2018–present)[6]
Results
edit| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes
|
1,155,588 | 74.37 |
| No | 398,196 | 25.63 |
| Total votes | 1,553,062 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,868,043 | 40.15 |
| Source: Alabama Secretary of State[7] | ||
References
edit- ^ "Sample Ballot" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Wise, Erin (16 September 2024). "Explaining constitutional amendment for Franklin Co. school land in Fayette, Walker Co". ABC 3340 News. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ a b Stephenson, Jemma. "Commission approves ballot amendment explanation". Alabama Reflector. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Ballot Statement for Statewide Amendment 1" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Alabama Amendment 1, Allow Franklin County Board of Education to Manage, Sell, or Lease Land in the Franklin County School System Amendment (2024)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Lone statewide CA on November ballot pertains to 3 counties". Alabama Daily News. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Unofficial Election Night Results". Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved 6 November 2024.