Statewide recount shows Alabama's segregation amendment failed [View All]

http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1102103946166880.xml&storylist=alabamanews

12/3/2004, 4:34 p.m. CT

By PHILLIP RAWLS
The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Unofficial totals from a statewide recount confirmed Friday that Alabama voters decided by a tiny margin to keep segregation-era language in the state constitution.

The unofficial tabulation, completed by Secretary of State Nancy Worley, showed there were 690,296 votes against the constitutional amendment that would have removed the language and 688,530 votes for it — a difference of 1,766 votes, or 0.13 percent.

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Amendment Two would have erased unenforced language from Alabama's constitution that required segregated schools and poll taxes, which were used to keep blacks and poor whites from voting. It also would have removed language added in 1956 that said there is no constitutional right to an education at public expense in Alabama — a change that foes of the amendment said could lead to huge, court-ordered tax hikes for schools.

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Gov. Bob Riley said Friday he will ask the Legislature in its February session to approve a version of Amendment Two that would remove only the constitutional language on segregated schools and poll taxes. That's what he originally wanted this time, but the Legislature decided to expand his recommendation before presenting it to voters in the Nov. 2 election.