MONTGOMERY, Ala., Dec. 3 -- A statewide recount showed that Alabama narrowly voted to keep language in the state constitution supporting segregation and poll taxes, according to unofficial totals released Friday.
Secretary of State Nancy Worley said voters defeated the amendment by 1,850 votes out of more than 1.3 million cast. The original vote count showed that the amendment lost by the same margin, or 0.13 percent.
Mobile County election coordinator Marilyn McDevitt, left, and paralegal Roxann Dyess took part in vote recount.
(Mary Hattler -- AP)
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Worley cautioned that the totals are unofficial until the votes are certified next week. "But this is an indication it is not going to turn around," she said.
The amendment would have erased from Alabama's Constitution unenforced language that requires segregated schools and poll taxes, which were designed to keep blacks from voting. Supporters of the amendment said the language is a painful and embarrassing reminder of the South's divisive past, and makes Alabama look bad to companies that might want to do business in the state.
But the measure also would have removed language that said there is no constitutional right to an education at public expense in Alabama. Opponents said removing it could have led to huge, court-ordered tax increases to fund schools.
Gov. Bob Riley (R) said Friday that he will ask the Legislature during its February session to approve a version of the amendment that would remove only the constitutional language on segregated schools and poll taxes. That was what he originally wanted, but the Legislature decided to expand his proposal before the Nov. 2 election.
"Despite the defeat of Amendment Two, I'm confident the vast majority of Alabamians support removing segregationist language from our constitution," the governor said.
