Nov. 3 general election ballots will ask Alabamians to decide four statewide questions covering public school prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, merging school districts and the lieutenant governor’s office. In Mobile County, residents will also weigh two tax proposals.
The statewide amendments would change the Alabama Constitution if approved by a majority of voters. The Mobile County measures would apply locally.
Statewide Amendment 1: Lieutenant Governor Vacancies and Legislative Pay
Amendment 1 would change how Alabama fills a vacancy in the lieutenant governor’s office.
If the office becomes vacant more than 60 days before the next general election for state officers, voters would elect someone to serve the remainder of the term.
The amendment would also allow the Legislature to set the pay of the lieutenant governor and legislative officers by joint resolution, and would require approval for legislative travel paid with legislative funds, according to disclosures from the Fair Ballot Commission.
The proposal originates from a bill sponsored by State Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa).
Statewide Amendment 2: A Path for Merging County School Systems
Amendment 2 would create a process for two or more neighboring county school systems to merge.
Before a merger could be finalized, the State Board of Education would have to study its effects on students, families, programs, transportation, finances, taxes and operations.
The measure includes a check on that process: if enough voters protest, the merger would have to be approved by voters in each affected county.
That structure matters in a state where school district boundaries carry consequences well beyond education administration — affecting property values, tax rates and local identity. Requiring a county-by-county vote when residents object means no county could be merged into another purely on a state board’s determination.
State Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) sponsored the enabling legislation.
Statewide Amendment 3: Pledge of Allegiance and Student-Led Prayer
Amendment 3 would require local school boards to adopt policies for the daily Pledge of Allegiance and for student-initiated, student-led prayer in public K-12 schools.
Students could not be forced to participate and could opt out based on their beliefs.
The wording is doing specific legal work. “Student-initiated, student-led” describes prayer organized and conducted by students rather than by school employees, and the opt-out provision addresses the compulsion question. Both elements track the distinctions federal courts have drawn in school prayer cases over several decades.
Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road) sponsored the bill for the measure.
Statewide Amendment 4: The National Anthem Weekly
Amendment 4 would require local school boards to adopt policies requiring public K-12 schools to broadcast or allow a performance of the first stanza of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at least once a week during school hours.
Sen. Allen sponsored this legislation as well.
The ballot statements say there are no costs or taxes associated with any of the four amendments.
Local Amendment 1: A Tax Freeze for Homeowners 65 and Older
Mobile County’s Local Amendment 1 would allow county residents 65 or older to freeze the assessed value of their homestead property when applying for their senior tax exemption — provided they have primarily lived at the residence for the past five years.
Two limits are built in.
The freeze applies to assessed value, not to the tax bill itself. The property would still be subject to millage rate changes, meaning a rate increase would still raise the amount owed even with the value frozen.
Additions and improvements made to the home after the freeze is claimed would also be added to the assessed value.
If passed, senior citizens could apply the freeze beginning Oct. 1, 2027, based on the property’s value as of Oct. 1, 2026.
The legislation was brought by Reps. Mark Shirey (R-Mobile), Chip Brown (R-Mobile), Shane Stringer (R-Citronelle) and Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile).
The policy addresses a specific problem for older homeowners on fixed incomes: rising assessed values in appreciating neighborhoods can increase a tax bill substantially without any corresponding increase in the household’s ability to pay.
The Pay-As-You-Go Referendum: $82 Million in Bonds
Mobile County’s Pay-As-You-Go referendum would continue the county’s long-running road, bridge and drainage funding program.
The measure asks voters to authorize up to $82 million in bonds and to continue the special 6.5-mill property tax used to pay them. The money breaks down as $40 million countywide and $14 million for each of the three county districts.
The program must be renewed every two years.
How the PAYG Model Works
Mobile County’s modern Pay-As-You-Go model dates to 1977, when the county began issuing bonds and retiring them with accumulated revenue from the special tax.
The arrangement lets the county avoid financing long-term debt. Rather than borrowing over decades and paying interest across that span, the county issues bonds against a revenue stream that retires them relatively quickly, then repeats the cycle.
The 6.5-mill tax itself is considerably older. It dates to 1924, when voters authorized it to help build the original Mobile Bay bridge and causeway system.
What the 2026 Package Would Fund
The 2026 PAYG package lists nearly 90 miles of road, bridge and intersection work: 35 miles of countywide projects, 30 miles in District 1, 11 miles in District 2 and 14 miles in District 3.
The largest countywide project is $6.18 million for street resurfacing in the city of Mobile, covering Cody Road South, Dawes Road, Emogene Street, Leroy Stevens Road and Sollie Road. That is followed by $4.62 million for resurfacing on Azalea Road, Lipscomb’s Landing, Lloyd Station Road and University Boulevard, also in Mobile.
In District 1, the largest project is $3.38 million for city of Mobile street resurfacing, including work in areas such as Africatown and along Zeigler Boulevard. Commissioner Merceria Ludgood represents the area.
In District 2, the largest project is $3.4 million to extend pavement on Boothtown Road in north Mobile County about 0.7 miles south from the end of pavement listed under the 2024 program. Connie Hudson serves as District 2 commissioner.
Another $3.54 million from District 3 funds is directed to Mobile street resurfacing, including several roads in south Mobile County — in the Belle Chase, Bradbury, Campanella and Saint Andrews areas — along with Bowers Lane, Dan Williams Road, Old Military Road, Jones Road, Knight Drive, Lesure Road and Second Creek Drive. Randall Dueitt represents District 3.
The ballot will not list every project. Voters interested in a full breakdown can visit the county commission’s website.
Voting
The general election is Nov. 3. Voters should confirm their registration status and polling place ahead of the election.