Key Takeaways
- There are 10 constitutional amendments on the ballot.
- Some are complicated and it can be challenging to understand what they do in practical terms.
- Leaders for a Better Louisiana is offering its analysis and recommendations.
On November 3 voters will go to the polls to find 10 constitutional amendments on the ballot. It’s not a record, but it is the most they’ve seen in more than a decade. Besides the high number, some of the amendments are complicated and require some context to fully understand their impact.
Because of that, Better Louisiana has provided an analysis of all ten amendments and offered our recommendations on several of them. In developing its positions, we have established a framework that we used for reviewing them, based on four guiding principles:
- Treat the constitution as a framing document for governance. Louisiana’s constitution should set structure and rights, as the federal constitution does. Most policy details belong in statute, where they can more easily be revised as needed.
- It is better to take things out of the constitution than unnecessarily add things to it. Removing provisions, particularly overly prescriptive tax policy, generally strengthens the document and returns decisions to the legislative process.
- Clear the way for good policy. Sometimes the existing constitutional language blocks sound policy that cannot be addressed in statute without a constitutional change.
- Resist new restrictions. Refrain from adding constraints that do not need to be placed in the constitution, especially measures that restrict the flexibility of local governments to manage their fiscal affairs. Once added to the constitution they can be difficult to adjust or remove.
Understanding the details of so many amendments can be challenging. But we hope voters will consider each of them carefully and use our analysis along with other available resources to make informed decisions when they cast their ballots.
Click here to read our analysis of all of the amendments and find an easy-to-understand one-page summary.