Published 7:42 am Tuesday, October 20, 2026 By Keely Mills, Georgia Public Policy Foundation While the U.S. Constitution is well known, not everyone realizes that each state has its own constitution, which is the supreme governing law of that state. Since an ordinary law cannot override the state constitution, Georgians are often asked to vote on constitutional amendments when they enter the voting booth in November. Georgia’s constitution is amended far more frequently than the U.S. Constitution. By the mid-1970s, it had accumulated over 800 amendments. In 1983, the state adopted a new constitution, which was intended to streamline and better organize what had become an unwieldy document. This constitution also ended the process of adding local amendments to the state constitution; voters have amended it more than 90 times since. An ordinary law is passed by the legislature, whereas an amendment is a formal alteration or addition made to the constitution. In 18 states, citizens can also put an amendment on the ballot by gathering signatures. Georgia isn’t one of them: Amendments here originate from the legislature, and voters statewide decide whether they pass. First, two-thirds of both the House and the Senate must approve the amendment. It then goes on the ballot at the next general election, held in November of even-numbered years, in which a simple majority of voters must approve it. Numerous amendments only grant permission, so the details of those amendments must…
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