Story perspectives

Louisiana Rejects All Five Constitutional Amendments by Wide Margins

5/18/2026

Center

Louisiana Voters Reject Amendments

All five constitutional amendments were rejected, with vote percentages ranging from 58% to 78% against each measure on the ballot.
Louisiana voters turned down the five amendments on the May 2026 ballot, confirming the electorate’s overall rejection.
Amendment 1, which would let the legislature alter civil-service positions, was rejected by 78% of voters.
Amendment 2 to create a St. George school system lost 64%, and Amendment 3 funding raises lost 58%.

Left

Voters Reject Amendments

The Louisiana Democratic Party called the election’s widespread confusion voter suppression and intimidation across the state.
Louisiana voters rejected all five state constitutional amendments on the May 16, 2026 ballot, with nearly 800,000 casting votes.
Senator Bill Cassidy lost the primary, the first incumbent Senate primary defeat in 14 years.
Jamie Davis and Nick Albares moved to a June 27 runoff for the Democratic Senate nomination.

Blindspot

Center coverage gave the vote percentages for each amendment, ranging from 58% to 78% against, which Left summary omitted.
Center coverage detailed the substance of each amendment—civil-service authority, a separate St. George school system, and teacher-pay funding—absent from the Left summary.

History

Historical Context

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act on August 6 1965, outlawing literacy tests and requiring DOJ preclearance for changes in 13 Southern states covering about a quarter of voters. After the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision weakened that oversight, Louisiana’s 2026 ballot saw nearly 800,000 voters reject five amendments, reviving debates over modernizing preclearance.

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Louisiana Voters Reject Amendments

All five constitutional amendments were rejected, with vote percentages ranging from 58% to 78% against each measure on the ballot.
Louisiana voters turned down the five amendments on the May 2026 ballot, confirming the electorate’s overall rejection.
Amendment 1, which would let the legislature alter civil-service positions, was rejected by 78% of voters.
Amendment 2 to create a St. George school system lost 64%, and Amendment 3 funding raises lost 58%.

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