Alabama voters approve school prayer, Pledge of Allegiance amendment

A ballot measure that would amend the Alabama Constitution to essentially require the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools in addition to allowing “student-initiated and student-led prayer” is projected to be approved by voters, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Voters in the Cotton State passed the constitutional amendment, known as Alabama Statewide Amendment 3 , which would require local school boards “to adopt policies requiring each public K-12 school to conduct The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag” daily in addition to adopting policies allowing student-initiated, student-led prayer.

Students would still be allowed to opt out of reciting the pledge or participating in student-led prayer. The ballot measure needed more than half of the vote to pass.

The measure passed early Wednesday with 63 percent of the vote, according to DDHQ.

Alabama already has a law on the books that directs schools to say the pledge, though students are allowed to sit it out. School prayer is also covered in the state.

The difference here is that this requirement would be included in the state constitution and would allow policies around student-initiated prayer.

Battles around religious freedom and public education have played out in recent years, including earlier this year, when a federal appellate court ultimately allowed Louisiana to enforce a law mandating the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools.