The colorful amendments presented to citizens in this year’s midterm elections in Alabama are again showing why they have come to influence how Alabamians are known across the country.
The first amendment, Amendment 2, proposes a change to the Alabama Constitution that would “affirm that it is the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, most importantly the right to life in all manners and measures appropriate and lawful.” This would also declare that people living in the state do not have a right to abortion and that public funds will not be given to abortion providers.
A separate amendment to the Alabama Constitution is related to the controversy surrounding the time former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore was removed from the Supreme Court for his insistence that a monument to the Ten Commandments, a religious document, be placed at the Supreme Court office. This week voters will get a chance to support an amendment to “authorize(s) the display of the Ten Commandments on state property and property owned or administered by a public school or public body.”
However, this amendment would not allow public funds to be administered towards the goal of placing the Ten Commandments throughout state offices. According to the amendment (and to attempt to meet the requirements of constitutionality), the Ten Commandments would be placed around other historical and educational documents at state offices.
These Amendments can still meet their demise at the Supreme Court of Alabama, the United States Supreme Court or they can be defeated at the ballot box this week. Vote November 6th, Alabama.
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