MONGOMERY — Called the “cornerstone” of Secretary of State Wes Allen’s legislative agenda, a proposed Alabama constitutional amendment would require the state’s elected constitutional officers be natural-born citizens.
Sen. Donnie Chesteen has announced his sponsorship of the “Natural Born Citizen Constitutional Amendment” for the upcoming session. Rep. Rhett Marques (R-Enterprise) will carry the bill in the Alabama House.
“I am excited to get this legislation passed and put the amendment on a ballot for a vote of the people,” Chesteen (R-Geneva) said. “When Wes Allen approached me with the idea of mandating that all of our state’s elected constitutional officers must be natural-born citizens of the United States, I told him that I wanted to work with him as the Senate sponsor on this legislation and make this a part of Alabama’s Constitution.
“Most people believe that is already a requirement and so we should ensure that we make it a prerequisite for serving.”
Allen commended Chesteen for his work on this legislation and his passion for the bill’s purpose.
“Senator Chesteen is as passionate about this legislation as I am,” Allen said. “For the same reasons our founding fathers sought to ensure that our nation’s leader was a natural born American citizen, we believe the same standard must be required of those operating in the highest levels of our state government.
“I am confident that the vast majority of Alabamians join us in wanting to strengthen our state Constitution to put Alabama first and to counteract any potential future influence from abroad.”
If passed by the Alabama House and Senate, the amendment would be placed on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot.
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