Taxonomy: Racism versus Fiscal Conservatism in Voting on Segregationist Provisions in Alabama’s Constitution
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Constitutional Political Economy
Volume
19
Publication Date
2008
First Page
61
Last Page
80
Abstract
On Election Day 2004, a razor-thin majority of Alabama’s voters rejected a proposed amendment to remove overtly segregationist language from the state constitution. Opponents had contended that approval would have opened the legislative door to significantly higher taxes. We employ the results from two earlier special elections to analyze the outcome. In 2000, voters supported repealing a constitutional provision prohibiting interracial marriages. Three years later, Alabamians were asked to reveal their preferences with respect to additional taxation. The evidence suggests that opposition to higher taxes rather than bigotry was decisive in the rejection of Amendment 2 in 2004.
Recommended Citation
“Taxonomy: Racism versus Fiscal Conservatism in Voting on Segregationist Provisions in Alabama’s Constitution” (with Michael Reksulak), Constitutional Political Economy 19 (March 2008), pp. 61–80.
