November Ballot: Constitutional Amendments and Referenda

In addition to electing candidates for various offices, voters will answer “yes” or “no” on seven or eight questions on the November ballot. All ballots contain five proposed constitutional amendments and two statewide referenda questions. However, some voters may be asked an eighth question. Their answers will determine whether local retail liquor sales should start an hour earlier on Sunday. The amendments and referenda are on the ballot in the following order:

Amendment 1 creates the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act to govern the conservation of land and water. If it passes, up to 80 percent of sales taxes collected on the sale of sporting goods must be dedicated to land conservation, regardless of other critical needs. Legislators already have the authority to allocate such funds via the annual budget. Vote NO

Amendment 2 creates, as part of the superior court, a state-wide business court with judges appointed and reappointed by the governor. Regulations would be legislated in the future. Locally elected judges would serve with more accountability. Vote NO

Amendment 3 changes the assessment and taxation of “forest land conservation use property” by requiring each tract to be “at least 200 acres in aggregate” in one or two counties with at least 100 acres within a county. Would imminent domain condemnations be used to acquire the 200 acres? How would this affect the conservation of smaller tracts? Vote NO

Amendment 4 authorizes victims of crimes to request a court notification when the defendant in the case is released or escapes from prison. Also, victims would be assured a right to speak at scheduled proceedings. Vote YES

Amendment 5 in locales that contain independent or combination school districts voters could direct full-time equivalent funding to the school attended by the student. Vote YES

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