Amendments One and Two on May 19, 2026 ballots explained

When Alabama voters cast ballots in the May 19, 2026, primary election, they will be asked to decide two proposed Constitutional Amendments.

The amendments will appear on all Republican, Democratic and independent ballots, so all voters will be able to vote on them regardless of any political party affiliation.

In order to appear on a statewide ballot, a proposed Constitutional Amendment must be approved by a 60% vote from both the Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate.

Amendment One reads as follows: “Proposing an amendment to Section 16 of the Constitution of Alabama 2022, to provide that the following offenses shall be offenses for which a judge may deny bail; shooting or discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling or other occupied space in violation of Section 13A-11-61(b), Code of Alabama 1975; or any solicitation, attempt, or conspiracy to commit murder.”

After the 2019 murder of Aniah Blanchard, a college student who was abducted and murdered, a Macon County jury convicted Ibraheem Yazeed of murder. At the time he abducted Blanchard, Yazeed was already out on bond for unrelated pending charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and robbery.

The Alabama Legislature passed ‘Aniah’s Law’ in 2021, which created a list of offenses that judges could deny the opportunity for bail. Alabama voters approved the law through a Constitutional Amendment in 2022.

The 2026 Amendment Two would expand the list of offenses for which bail may be denied to include any solicitation, attempt or conspiracy to commit murder and charges of shooting into an occupied dwelling or vehicle.

Although the governor’s signature is not required to approve a Constitutional Amendment, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is publicly supporting Amendment One.

Amendment Two reads as follows: “Proposing an amendment to Section 160 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to provide that compensation received by a district attorney may not be diminished during his or her term of office.”

Alabama district attorneys are elected to serve six year terms. This amendment, if approved, would prevent any salary reduction to a district attorney’s salary during his or her term of office.

Last year, the Alabama Legislature passed House Bill 353 that required new district attorneys to receive an initial salary equivalent to an incoming circuit court judge. As of 2025, the salary for a circuit judge was $140,000.

HB53 also provided for a 7.5% salary increase for each six-year term completed by the district attorney. District attorneys could receive this 7.5% salary increase for the first four terms they serve, although they could be elected to subsequent terms.

A change to the Alabama Constitution must be approved by a simple majority, meaning 50% of votes cast plus one, to become law.