Explaining the Louisiana constitutional amendments on Dec. 10 ballot
Voters' minds may still be muddled from deciphering proposed amendments to the Louisiana Constitution in the Nov. 8 election, but they have three more proposed amendments to consider on the Dec. 10 ballot.
The slate of proposed amendments for the Dec. 10 election seems more straightforward, including one that would prevent anyone who isn't a United States citizen from voting and two that would reduce the state's gubernatorial power on some commission appointments and give the Legislature an expanded voice.
Since the Louisiana Constitution was ratified in 1974, voters have approved 206 amendments.
Following is an abridged and edited explanation of the amendments from the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, which provides a guide without taking a position. For PAR's full guide to the proposed amendments with detailed explanations go to http://parlouisiana.org/:
Amendment 1: Do you support an amendment to provide that no person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to register and vote in this state?
A vote for would: Ban people who aren’t United States citizens from registering to vote or casting ballots in Louisiana elections.
A vote against would: Keep current language governing voting rights, which requires a person to be a Louisiana citizen to register to vote or cast ballots in elections.
Argument for: Some municipalities in other states have allowed non-U.S. citizens to vote in their local elections. This amendment closes a possible loophole and adds clarity in the Louisiana Constitution, preventing a local governing authority in the state from trying to change the rules to allow people who aren’t United States citizens to register to vote and cast ballots.
Argument against: The amendment is unnecessary because Louisiana doesn’t allow people who aren’t United States citizens to vote in state elections, requiring those who register to vote to attest that they are citizens. No local governing authority in the state has tried to let non-U.S. citizens register to vote. Only the Louisiana Legislature can write voting laws, so municipalities don’t have the ability to change the rules to allow people who aren’t citizens to vote.
Amendment No. 2: Senate confirmation of Civil Service Commission members
A vote for would: Require Louisiana Senate confirmation of the governor’s appointees to the State Civil Service Commission.
A vote against would: Continue to let the governor appoint members to the State Civil Service Commission without needing confirmation of those choices from the Louisiana Senate.
Argument for: Giving state senators the chance to question and vet the qualifications of the six gubernatorial appointees to the commission offers a layer of checks and balances and provides more public oversight and accountability to the selection process. The change puts the commission in line with appointees to other major boards and with top-level staff in a governor’s administration, who require Senate confirmation.
Argument against: Requiring Senate confirmation of appointees to a commission that deals with civil service issues injects politics and the potential for political meddling into a panel that is supposed to handle decisions apolitically. The Senate traditionally gives its individual members the privilege to block confirmation of appointees from their home districts to boards and commissions. The decisions are made behind closed doors, and no reason has to be given. Requiring confirmation could lengthen the time to fill commission positions.
Amendment No. 3: Senate confirmation of State Police Commission members
A vote for would: Require Louisiana Senate confirmation of the governor’s appointees to the State Police Commission.
A vote against would: Continue to let the governor appoint members to the State Police Commission without needing confirmation of those choices from the Louisiana Senate.
Argument for: Giving state senators the chance to question and vet the qualifications of the six gubernatorial appointees to the commission offers a layer of checks and balances and provides more public oversight and accountability to the selection process. The change puts the commission in line with appointees to other major boards and with top-level staff in a governor’s administration, who require Senate confirmation.
Argument against: Requiring Senate confirmation of appointees to a commission that deals with civil service issues injects politics and the potential for political meddling into a panel that is supposed to handle decisions apolitically. The Senate traditionally gives its individual members the privilege to block confirmation of appointees from their home districts to boards and commissions. The decisions are made behind closed doors, and no reason has to be given. Requiring confirmation could lengthen the time to fill commission positions.
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana constitutional amendments on Dec. 10 election: What they mean
