Madison voters face four statewide amendments on Nov. 3, two about what public schools must do each day, plus a county question. Registration closes Monday.

Updated Nov. 4: All four amendments passed statewide in unofficial results; Madison County voted no on Amendment 4. Both county questions passed. See the results.

Madison voters will answer four statewide constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot. Two of them would change what every public school in Alabama, including Madison City Schools, has to do during the school week.

Voters in the Madison County part of the city also get one county question, about private sewer systems. Voters on the Limestone County side get a different one, a property tax break for residents 65 and older.

The wording below is from the official sample ballots for Madison County and Limestone County, published by the Alabama Secretary of State. The plain-language summaries come from the state’s ballot statements for the four amendments.

The deadline to register for this election is Monday, Oct. 19. Our voting guide has polling places, ID rules and absentee deadlines.

The four statewide amendments

Each one asks for a yes or a no. A yes vote changes the Alabama Constitution; a no vote leaves it as it is. The state’s ballot statement says none of the four carries a cost or a tax.

Amendment 1: the lieutenant governor and legislative pay. If the office of lieutenant governor fell vacant more than 60 days before the next general election for state offices, an election would be held to fill it. Today the office stays empty until the next regular election. The amendment would also:

  • let the Legislature set the pay of the lieutenant governor and its own officers by joint resolution
  • require travel spending by lawmakers to be approved by an officer elected by their chamber

Amendment 2: merging county school systems. Two or more neighboring county boards of education could vote to merge into one school system. The State Board of Education would first have to study and publish the effects on students, transportation, finances and taxes. If 25% of voters in any affected county signed a written protest, the merger would go to a public vote in every county involved.

The ballot wording covers county boards only. Madison City Schools is a city system.

Amendment 3: the Pledge of Allegiance and student-led prayer. Every local board of education would have to adopt two policies:

  • each public K-12 school conducts the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day, and students may voluntarily recite it
  • student-initiated and student-led prayer is allowed

No student could be required to take part in the prayer. Students could opt out of the pledge or the prayer based on their own beliefs. The local superintendent would review any reported violation.

Amendment 4: the national anthem. Every local board of education would have to make each public K-12 school broadcast the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once a week during school hours. A board could instead let a school-approved band, choir, vocal group or singer perform it.

The county questions

Madison County voters see one local amendment. In the ballot’s words, it would “bring under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission certain privately owned sewer systems that use public rights-of-way of public roads under certain conditions.” It was proposed by Act 2026-323.

Limestone County voters, which includes the west side of Madison, see a different local amendment. It would “authorize a qualified taxpayer 65 years of age or older to claim a senior property tax exemption for real property under certain conditions.” It was proposed by Act 2026-86.

The ballots do not spell out the conditions in either case. Both acts are on the Alabama Legislature’s website.

The races on the Madison County ballot

Every Madison County ballot carries the governor’s race, Democrat Doug Jones against Republican Tommy Tuberville. It also carries the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Everett Wess against Republican Barry Moore, and the 5th Congressional District, Democrat Andrew Sneed against Republican Dale W. Strong.

These countywide races are contested:

Office Democrat Republican
Sheriff Brett Jones Kevin H. Turner
Tax collector Jeff Taylor Valerie D. Miles
District judge, Place 1 Kimberly Kelley Rucker Tim Douthit
District judge, Place 4 Jason M. Jones John R. Allen
District judge, Place 5 Raven Beach Jeanne Dowdle Rizzardi

Cliff Mann (tax assessor), Tyler Berryhill (coroner) and Mark Craig (license director), all Republicans, are unopposed.

State House, state Senate, State Board of Education and Madison County Board of Education seats vary by district. The sample ballot notes that those offices do not appear on every ballot. The Madison County school board does not run Madison City Schools.

Limestone County’s countywide races are different and are on its sample ballot.

What it means for you

  • Check that you are registered before Monday, Oct. 19, on the state’s My Info lookup. It also shows your polling place and your districts.
  • Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Bring a photo ID.
  • Amendments 3 and 4 would apply to Madison City Schools if they pass. Amendment 2 would not, as worded.
  • Read the full sample ballot for your county before you go. Every race is on it, including the appeals court and Supreme Court seats.

Results on election night will come from Madison County and Limestone County. They are unofficial until certified. We will report them.

This story is factual and endorses no candidate or measure.