Louisiana Amendments Read at 16th-Grade Level
Ballotpedia analysis finds Louisiana's constitutional amendments on Tuesday's ballot average a 16th-grade reading level.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections
Louisiana's 10 constitutional amendments on Tuesday's ballot require at least a 9th-grade reading level and average a 16th-grade level, according to Ballotpedia analysis. The readability score measures text difficulty and is not an education requirement for voters.
Why it matters
The reading level of ballot language determines how easily Louisiana voters can understand what they are approving or rejecting. Amendment No. 7, which would allow public funds for replacing lead water lines, scores at a 22nd-grade level.
Ballotpedia's readability analysis measured each of Louisiana's 10 constitutional amendments on a grade-level scale, with the average reaching 16th grade and the lowest-scoring amendment at 9th grade. Amendment No. 7 registered at 22nd grade, equivalent to six years of schooling past a bachelor's degree, and the source does not address how this affects voter comprehension.
The players
Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia is a nonpartisan online encyclopedia that tracks U.S. elections, ballot measures, and political information.
Public Affairs Research Council
The Public Affairs Research Council is a nonpartisan Louisiana public policy research organization that publishes explainers on state government and ballot issues.
The details
Ballotpedia calculated the readability scores for each amendment on the ballot, which also includes elections for various offices and additional local measures. The full text of each amendment is available online, and the nonpartisan Public Affairs Research Council has published a full explainer and a one-pager.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Louisiana voters decide 10 constitutional amendments.
Ballot Readability
Ballotpedia's readability scoring applies a grade-level measure to each ballot measure, and Louisiana's amendments fall well above the 9th-grade minimum, with an average near 16th grade. Readers should treat these scores as a measure of text difficulty rather than a voter education requirement.
Louisiana voters will face 10 constitutional amendments on Tuesday, and the full text of each is available online before they vote. Voters who find the ballot language difficult can consult the Public Affairs Research Council's explainer and one-pager to understand what each amendment would do.
The takeaway
Louisiana voters can review the full text of all 10 amendments online before Tuesday to understand the language on their ballot. Reading the Public Affairs Research Council's explainer ahead of time can make complex amendment wording easier to follow.
Further reading
Explore more on Elections coverage for Louisiana's ballot measures and voting rules.
