A closer look at Amendment 4

A closer look at Amendment 4

Najahe sherman.

And i'm dan shaffer.

Come november third, you're not just going to see candidates on the ballot.

You'll also be asked to decide on a half dozen state constitutional amendments.

One of them could remove racist language from the state's constitution.

That's amendment four.

It would authorize a process to make those revisions.

They would then be considered in 20-22 by lawmakers and then voters.

Waay 31's megan reyna joins us live from huntsville tonight.

She spoke with the organization that spearheaded the legislation to get this amendment on the ballot, megan?

The non-profit alabama citizens for constitutional reform wants the state to create a constitution that any alabamian can understand and that isn't outdated with racist language.

And they believe amendment 4 can achieve just that.

Ekberg says: "they still have words in there that are so racist and we don't want alabama to be portrayed that way."

Nancy ekberg is with the alabama citizens for constitutional reform.

A group focused on creating a new foundation for alabama -- that doesn't include racism.

Ekberg says: "this will allow the legislature to turn over to the legislative services the job of going through and eliminating redundancy, eliminating words that are illegal such as the fact the education article says that black children and white children may not go to school together."

Last year -- the legislature passed a bill authored by representative merika coleman of pleasant grove-- placing amendment 4 on november's ballot.

The bill states -- the director of the legislative services agency would draft a revised constitution and submit it to lawmakers in 2022.

Once three-fifths of the house and senate approves it -- it would go to the ballot for voters... like miracle johnson.

Johnson says: "especially with everything going on with the black lives matter movement, it just gives other people, it just makes them feel like they still have that power over us.

They can still revert back to those ways because it's still on paper.

Even if it's not a law that's into effect right now, it's still on paper, it's still there.

We should change it so that these people can understand.

If we're going to change it, we should change everything, even the stuff on paper."

Ekberg says while this feels over-due -- efforts in the past-- specifically in 2004 and 2012 fell short.

However -- she's confident this time will be different.

Ekberg says: "the average alabamian should be able to pick up his or hers constitution and read it and be able to say okay, i understand what it says."

Johnson says: "this thing, it needs to be voted, you need to check yes."

Again, this would be just the first step in authorizing this process.

Voters would get a final say on a revised constitution in 2022.

Reporting live in hsv mr waay31