Louisiana Voters Reject All Five Constitutional Amendments in May 2026 Election

On May 16, 2026, nearly 800,000 Louisiana voters rejected all five constitutional amendments. The measures and their vote shares were: Amendment 1 (civil-service changes) – 22 % yes, 78 % no; Amendment 2 (St. George independent school district) – 36 % yes, 64 % no; Amendment 3 (teacher and support-staff raises funded by dissolving three education trust funds) – 42 % yes, 58 % no; Amendment 4 (business-inventory tax exemption) – 34 % yes, 66 % no; Amendment 5 (judicial retirement age increase) – 23 % yes, 77 % no.

KATC - Lafayette News

Governor Jeff Landry supported four of the five proposals and his Protect Louisiana Values PAC contributed roughly $1 million to a pro-amendment campaign. The Louisiana Federation of Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Educators endorsed Amendment 3, while some union affiliates and St. Tammany Parish teachers union president Brant Osborne called for a traditionally funded raise. The Liberty and Dignity Coalition organized a “No on All” effort linking the vote to recent election-date changes.

Louisiana Teachers Could Lose $2,000 Stipend After Amendment Vote

Superintendent LaMont Cole said the outcome demonstrated voters’ preferences and pledged to keep focusing on student achievement. Senate President Cameron Henry said the defeat of the teacher-pay amendment signals that the legislature will not pursue a raise without voter support. The state Democratic Party characterized the early-voting and ballot-day issues as significant confusion and alleged voter suppression and intimidation.

Louisiana Teachers Could Lose $2,000 Stipend After Amendment Vote

Election officials reported lingering early-voting and ballot-printing issues that contributed to voter frustration. Black voter turnout was notably higher than in prior cycles, a pattern linked to mobilization around the redistricting dispute. Sources differ on statewide support for Amendment 2: The Hill and KATC cite 36% yes/64% no, while WWNO’s East Baton Rouge precinct data show 31% yes/69% no. Several outlets did not provide reliability scores, limiting source-credibility assessment.

KATC - Lafayette News

• “Read a statement from EBR Schools Superintendent LaMont Cole: “Tonight’s outcome reflects the will of the voters, and I believe our community took this decision very seriously.” — LaMont Cole, East Baton Rouge Schools Superintendent

The Hill

• “If the public doesn’t vote to give [teachers] a pay raise, then that means they don’t want to give them a pay raise,” — Cameron Henry, Louisiana Senate President

Louisiana Teachers Could Lose $2,000 Stipend After Amendment Vote

• “mass confusion” amounts to “voter suppression and voter intimidation.” — State Democratic Party statement

WWNO - NPR - New Orleans

• “All of those things are opening people’s eyes to the voter suppression efforts that have been taking place in this state for a long time,” — Sarah Omojola, Liberty and Dignity Coalition organizer

Louisiana Teachers Could Lose $2,000 Stipend After Amendment Vote

The regular legislative session opens in early June. Senate President Henry has signaled that the chamber will not revisit teacher-pay funding after the amendment’s defeat, while Governor Landry continues to advocate a $44 million school-voucher expansion that may compete for limited resources. Lawmakers will also consider whether to address the business-inventory tax exemption through ordinary legislation rather than a constitutional amendment.

WWNO - NPR - New Orleans