On the Ballot November 8th
Two Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Since 2022 is the second year of the current Georgia legislative term, constitutional amendments proposed and passed in 2021 and 2022 will be decided by voters this November.

1. S.R. 134, introduced February 22, 2021 by Senator Larry Walker, III, authorizes the suspension of compensation of certain State officers and members of the General Assembly if they are indicted for a felony. Representative Chuck Efstration sponsored it in the House, where it passed March 23, 2021 with the required two-thirds vote of 169-0, and the Senate 51-1 on March 8, 2021. Final passage or defeat will be decided by a majority of voters.

What will change, if it gets a majority vote November 8th? Currently, public officials that are indicted for a felony are suspended with pay, until the case is finalized. However, S.R. 134 would require loss of salary if the official is indicted. This is the question on the ballot:

“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to suspend the compensation of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, or any member of the General Assembly while such individual is suspended from office following indictment for a felony?”

ACTION – Oppose, presumes guilt. (a) Indictment doesn’t prove guilt. Should salary be withheld before guilt is proven? (b) If salary were stopped, would back-pay and reinstatement be forthcoming if there were no conviction?

• To read more about the November 2022 ballot, click here.