2022 Alabama Recompiled Constitution Ratification Question

Alabama Recompiled Constitution Ratification Question^[1] was held to amend the Constitution of Alabama, replacing it with a more modern version drafted to achieve the following:

• properly arrange the document;
• remove the racist language, such a ban on interracial marriage^[2] and school segregation;^[3]
• delete self-repeating and repealed provisions, including a section that limited suffrage to men;^[4][5]
• do away with slavery and involuntary servitude, even as a punishment for a crime;^[6]
• consolidate provisions concerning economic development;
• arrange the local provisions based on the county of application.

Alabama's previous Constitution was established with the explicit purpose of establishing white supremacy in the state.^[7] There had been three citizen efforts to strike down the racist and outdated language from the Constitution:

• 2000 Alabama Amendment 2, which aimed to remove a ban on interracial marriage. It was approved with almost 60% of the votes in favor;
• 2004 Alabama Amendment 2, which sought to eliminate a requirement for segregated schools, as well as references to poll taxes. It was narrowly defeated with a margin of 1850 votes;^[8][9]
• 2012 Alabama Amendment 4, similar to the 2004 constitutional amendment. It was defeated with slightly more than 60% of the votes against.^[10]

The referendum was preceded by a 2020 amendment that authorized the Alabama Legislature to draft a new version of the Constitution. Four sections were struck down from the document, including one that established school discrimination.^[11]

The measure passed with a wide majority of more than two thirds of the votes. It got its strongest results in Macon and Greene counties, while performing the worst in Covington county.

The measure was broadly accepted, winning more than three fourths of the votes. It succeeded in every county of the state, performing the best in Macon and Madison counties. Conversely, it got its worst result in Choctaw county.

The new Constitution became the seventh in Alabama's history, succeeding the documents adopted in 1819, 1861, 1865, 1868, 1875 and 1901.^[12][13] Alabama joined Utah,^[14] Nebraska, Colorado,^[15] Vermont, Tennessee and Oregon^[16] in striking down slavery and involuntary servitude in their constitutions.