Louisiana voters reject all five constitutional amendments

Louisiana voters soundly rejected all five constitutional amendments on the ballot during Saturday’s election, with preliminary results showing none securing majority support. The most contentious measure, Amendment 3, which aimed to permanently increase teacher salaries by $2,250 annually and eliminate retirement debt through state education trust funds, trailed at 42% approval. Supporters argued the amendment would stabilize funding for educators, but critics warned its failure could leave teachers without salary guarantees, as Senate President Cameron Henry previously cautioned the Legislature would not replace the lost funds. The election came amid heightened political tensions after Governor Jeff Landry suspended U.S. House races at the last minute to redraw Louisiana’s congressional map following a Supreme Court ruling that declared the existing map unconstitutional. Political analysts attributed the amendments’ defeat to strong Democratic turnout during early voting, particularly in response to the redistricting move, which opponents framed as partisan overreach. Amendment 1, which would have allowed the Legislature to strip civil service protections from state jobs, failed to gain traction, with supporters claiming it would improve government efficiency while critics feared it would expose employees to political retaliation. Amendment 2, proposing a new school district in St. George—a newly formed city that split from Baton Rouge—also lost, despite arguments that it would improve local education, though opponents called it a segregationist measure. Amendment 4, permitting parishes to eliminate business inventory taxes in exchange for one-time state payments, and Amendment 5, raising the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75, both fell short of passage. The judge retirement amendment faced opposition from those concerned about cognitive decline in older judges, while the business tax proposal lacked broad appeal despite claims it would attract investors. With all five amendments defeated, Louisiana’s political landscape remains unchanged, leaving unresolved debates over teacher pay, judicial terms, and local governance. The results reflect voter dissatisfaction with the state’s recent legislative actions, particularly the redistricting controversy, which dominated the election cycle.