On the November 7th ballot in Georgia is the following Constitutional Amendment question:
Text of ballot issue: Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to prohibit the use of eminent domain by certain nonelected authorities and to prohibit the contested use of eminent domain except for public use as defined by general law?
What it means to you: Eminent domain is a power used by government agencies to seize private property for public use. If your property is in the way of a road-widening, for example, the local or state transportation department may compensate you for taking the land as part of the project. The amendment is the result of high-profile cases in Georgia and throughout the country in which land was taken for commercial redevelopment. The law allows such takings if the government or an appointed development agency decides the property is blighted, and the definitions of blight are loose. Lawmakers, spurred by angry landowners, saw this as an abuse of eminent domain powers. A “yes” vote would require government agencies to meet certain criteria for defining blighted areas, give property owners more ways to appeal condemnations and make city and county elected officials vote on any such seizures. A “no” vote would keep current law in place, which allows non-elected authorities to use eminent domain.
Just ONE MORE REASON for Georgia citizens to rush to the polls November 7th. Eminent domain abuses have been seen recently all over the nation. This amendment to the Georgia Constitution would limit these abuses.
Constitution, Georgia, eminent domain
