Amendment 1: Lieutenant Governor Vacancies and Legislative Salaries
Statewide — all of Alabama
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Referred to the ballot by the Alabama Legislature as Senate Bill 271 (Act 2026-341), sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville). Alabama has no citizen initiative; the Legislature refers amendments to voters under Sections 284 and 285 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, and a majority of those voting on the question approves. The Senate passed it on February 19, 2026; the House amended and passed it on March 31, and the Senate concurred on April 1, 2026.[1][2]
The question on the ballot
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to provide for the election of a Lieutenant Governor if the Office of Lieutenant Governor becomes vacant during the first two years of a term, to authorize the Legislature to set the salary of the Lieutenant Governor and officers of the Legislature, and to require any expenditure of legislative funds for travel to be approved by a legislative officer. Proposed by Act 2026-341.[1][2]
The amendment would amend Section 127 of the Alabama Constitution so that if the office of lieutenant governor becomes vacant more than 60 days before the next general election at which state officers are elected, a lieutenant governor is elected at that election for the unexpired term. It would also add a provision that, notwithstanding any other part of the constitution, the lieutenant governor and officers of both houses are paid an amount set by joint resolution of the Legislature, and that legislators' travel expenditures from appropriated funds must be approved by an officer of the Legislature elected from that chamber's membership. The Fair Ballot Commission's statement describes current law as generally leaving a vacancy in the office until the next regular election for it, and says the Constitution also sets the pay of the lieutenant governor and certain legislative officers. It states: "There are no costs or taxes associated with Amendment 1."[1][2]
A YES vote means
The Alabama Constitution is changed: a lieutenant governor vacancy that occurs more than 60 days before the next general election at which state officers are elected is filled by election at that election; the Legislature sets the pay of the lieutenant governor and legislative officers by joint resolution; and legislators' travel spending must be approved by a legislative officer.
A NO vote means
The Alabama Constitution is not changed: under current law a lieutenant governor vacancy generally remains until the next regular election for the office, and the Constitution continues to set the pay of the lieutenant governor and certain legislative officers.
The law today
Current law generally provides that if the office of Lieutenant Governor becomes vacant during a term, the vacancy remains until the next regular election for that office; the Alabama Constitution also sets the pay of the Lieutenant Governor and certain legislative officers.[2]
Official fiscal estimate
The Fair Ballot Commission states: "There are no costs or taxes associated with Amendment 1."[2]
Arguments made for
- Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville), the sponsor, said: "I realized the deficiency we had in our existing law because it could just be as simple as somebody has a stroke or a heart attack shortly after taking office, and it doesn't matter whether it's the lieutenant governor or the governor. We are left with a long-term vacancy."[3]
Arguments made against
- None found in public sources.
Research notes & limits
The Alabama Secretary of State's page of Fair Ballot Commission ballot statements (sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/ballot-measures/statewide) lists exactly four statewide amendments for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election, numbered 1-4 in this order; the question text is the description in the enrolled Act, confirmed against the Commission's ballot statement (which adds "Proposed by Act 2026-xxx"). The Commission's statement and the enrolled Act do not publish arguments for or against, and Alabama issues no voter pamphlet; the only supporting statement found is the sponsor's, from 1819 News (a conservative-leaning outlet; quote verified on the page). No argument against was found and no campaign committees were found. Roll-call counts are not stated because the official Act shows only passage dates. No organized support or opposition groups, and no committee finance filings, were found for Amendment 1; the other lists are limited to the sponsor.
Sources · 3
Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.Senate Bill 271 (2026 Regular Session), enrolled · Alabama Legislature Official record
- 2.Fair Ballot Commission ballot statement for Statewide Amendment 1 (Nov. 3, 2026) · Alabama Fair Ballot Commission (via Alabama Secretary of State) · 2026-08 Official record
- 3.Statewide Amendment 1 to address lieutenant governor vacancies in first half of term · 1819 News · 2026-09-01 News report