MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Election officials will begin recounting votes Monday on a narrowly rejected ballot measure that would have removed segregation-era language from the state Constitution.

The amendment was defeated by 1,850, or .13 percent, according to the final vote tally. Alabama law requires an automatic recount if the margin is within a half percent.

The amendment would have removed un-enforced language mandating racial segregation from the state Constitution, which was written in 1901.

The failed measure would have re-written an education section of the constitution, specifically taking out a line about separate schools for "white and colored children."

"It would be better to re-do it, you know, and kind of put a lot of people's minds at ease," said Quincy Moore, of the Magic City Barber Shop.

"We decided it was a bad amendment, and we voted against it," said Percy Hornbuckle.

Hornbuckle worried that Amendment 2 was a backdoor to higher taxes and didn't think outdated racist laws were a problem for the modern black community.

"We're full-fledged Americans, and whatever anybody else gets, we ought to be entitled to the same thing," said Hornbuckle.

Secretary of State Nancy Worley said she doesn't expect the recount to change the final election results, "if all the correct procedures are followed." She said most counties will finish the recount in one day.

Most of Alabama's 67 counties use ballots that are scanned into machines and the recount would simply require poll workers to run the votes through the machines again.

Opponents claim that part of the amendment could lead to higher property taxes by letting courts declare that education is a constitutional right and then order spending increases for underfunded public schools. Proponents said it would erase segregationist language many consider embarrassing.

Several legislators have promised to reintroduce the measure if it fails, removing the language that some believe would leave the door open for tax increases.