May 16, 2026 Constitutional Amendments

 

Source: Public Domain

There has been some confusion about the closed primary system, along with Gov. Landry suspending the U. S. House primary elections following the Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. However, there will still be elections in Louisiana on May 16, including primary elections for both the Democratic and Republican candidates for the US Senate to determine their candidates for the general election in the fall. 

On a much more local level, there are also elections for my beloved City of Pineville for Mayor, and 4 of the 5 City Council seats. (Councilman Kevin Dorn, representing District 2, was reelected without opposition, which speaks to the high regard the citizens have for him.) The candidates for those elections are (in alphabetical order):

• Mayor:
• Joseph "Joe" Bishop 
• "Chris" Camp
• Russell "Rusty" Murdock
• City Council, District 1:
• "Greg" Aaron
• Danny "Dann" Eudy, Jr.
• Randy G. O'Neal
• City Council, District 3:
• Peter Ford
• Hugh Halle
• City Council, District 4:
• John Marcase 
• Celeste Mobley
• City Council, District 5:
• Mark A. Mertens
• "Tom" Murphy
  
• Samantha Stanley

There are also local elections in Creola, Colfax, and Montgomery, as well as several Rapides Parish Fire Protection District renewals and a Road District renewal on the ballot, in addition to five (5) Constitutional Amendments. Early voting has already begun and runs through Saturday, May 9 from 8:30AM-6:00PM and Rapides Parish voters can vote at the Registrar of Voters office in the Rapides Parish Courthouse or at Kees Park Community Center in Pineville.

You can get details on your ballot at the Secretary of State's website or by going to http://GeauxVote.com. 

For the past several years I have sought to provide a layman's guide to the amendments because they are (rightfully so) written in "legalese" in order to be factual, precise, and enforceable. Unfortunately, that means that sometimes they are not easily understood!

To guide my research I read as much as I can about the amendments as well as take in PAR's excellent guide to the amendments. I appreciate the work they put into explaining the issues and recommend that you take a look. However, it is a lot of reading, so below is my attempt to summarize each amendment into just a few paragraphs with a simple explanation of what a YES and NO vote would mean.

Remember that a constitutional amendment is not just a law - it's a permanent change to Louisiana's highest governing document, and our votes should be weighed by that understanding. So let's dive right in!

• CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1 will make some significant changes to civil service in Louisiana. Right now, a commission (not politicians) decides which state jobs are protected under civil service rules. This amendment would give the Legislature more power to decide which jobs are "classified" (protected) and which are "unclassified" (more political and easier to hire/fire). So essentially this amendment shifts some control from an independent board to elected officials.
  
  
• A YES vote means that the legislature gains more authority over state jobs and more positions could become political appointments. However, it potentially gives more flexibility in hiring and firing.
• A NO vote means the current system stays in place and civil service protections remain more insulated from politics.
  
  
  
• CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 would allow the City of St. George in East Baton Rouge Parish to create its own public school system, separate from the EBR Parish School System. St. George became Louisiana's newest city when voters in that area voted to incorporate in 2019. Now they want to form their own independent municipal school district, like their neighbors in Baker, Central, and Zachary.
  
  Why is this on our ballot in central Louisiana? Because the Louisiana constitution established the parish school board system, so any new district has to be approved by constitutional amendment. (Besides the three mentioned, there are also independent school districts in Bogalusa and Monroe, for a total of five.)
  
  Supporters of the amendment say it gives St. George residents more control over their schools, and they believe a smaller district would be more responsive to parents and students. Opponents say it would further fragment East Baton Rouge Parish schools, duplicate bureaucracy, drain resources away from the existing parish system, and likely increase racial and economic separation between school systems.
  
  
• A YES vote would authorize the creation of the St. George Community School System in East Baton Rouge Parish (as long as it passes in East Baton Rouge as well). 
• A NO vote would keep the schools in the City of St. George within the East Baton Rouge School System.
  
  
  
• CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 3 would dissolve three education trust funds and use that money to pay down part of the debt in the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana. This would lower the retirement-related costs paid by local school boards, allowing them to give raises to their employees ($2,250 for teachers and $1,125 for support workers). This would replace the one-time stipends teachers and support workers have received in recent years and make the raises permanent.
  
  Locally, Rapides Parish School Board Superintendent Jeff Powell has gone on record personally supporting this amendment, an idea he had floated for several years. So here's what your vote would do:
  
  
• A YES vote would dissolve the education trust funds, pay down the retirement debt, and free up money for permanent pay raises for teachers and school support workers. 
• A NO vote would keep the education trust funds in place and continue using their investment earnings for early childhood education, K-12 schools, and college programs.
  
  
  
• CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 4 would give local governments the option to reduce or eliminate the business inventory tax that companies pay on unsold goods sitting on shelves, in warehouses, or in production. Louisiana is one of only about a dozen states that collect that tax, which typically goes to local governments, such as parishes, sheriffs, school boards, etc. This amendment would give local governments the option to reduce or eliminate the inventory tax in exchange for a one-time state offset payment.
  
  Supporters say the inventory tax is outdated and discourages business investment so eliminating it could help attract jobs and growth. Opponents say that local governments rely heavily on this revenue and the state's one-time payment doesn't replace long-term funding, so other taxes may have to be raised. So here's what your vote would do:
  
  
• A YES vote would allow (but not require) local governments to reduce or eliminate the business inventory tax. 
• A NO vote would keep the current system of inventory taxes.
  
  
  
• CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 5 would raise the mandatory retirement age of judges from 70 to 75. That sounds pretty simple! Supporters say that judges gain valuable experience over time and since people are living and working longer, 70 is no longer what it used to be. Opponents say that mandatory retirement ensures regular turnover and fresh perspectives, keeping opportunities for younger attorneys to become judges, and avoids concerns about declining mental or physical capacity. Here's what your vote would do:
  
  
• A YES vote would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75 and keep the current rule that judges can finish their term even if they reach the age limit mid-term. 
• A NO vote would keep the current retirement age at 70 (although they can finish out their current term if they hit 70 while in office).

As both a pastor and a public servant, I’ve learned that stewardship isn’t just about what we do in church -- it’s also about how we engage in our community. The privilege to vote is something many around the world never experience, and it carries both a civic responsibility and a moral weight. These amendments may seem technical, but they shape the future of our state, our schools, our courts, and our communities. And just as importantly, so do the candidates we elect to lead and represent us. So take a few minutes, seek wisdom, get informed, and then go make your voice heard with your vote. Our state will be better for it.