Isabella Carter
The 2024 North Carolina ballot includes a measure to amend the state constitution's current language on voting laws. The proposed amendment, known as the citizens-only voting amendment, seeks to change the language in the state constitution to specify that only citizens of the United States who are 18 years of age and meet the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote in any election in the state. This amendment has sparked debate, with opponents arguing that it is unnecessary and may confuse eligible immigrant voters, while supporters claim it is needed to protect the integrity of elections. The fate of this amendment will be decided by North Carolina voters, who can vote for or against the measure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2024 |
| State | North Carolina |
| Amendment Type | "Citizens-only" voting amendment |
| Amendment Purpose | To change the state constitution's current language on who can vote in elections |
| Current Constitution Wording | "Every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age, and possessing the qualifications set out in this Article, shall be entitled to vote at any election by the people of the State, except as herein otherwise provided." |
| Proposed Amendment Wording | "Constitutional amendment to provide that only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and otherwise possessing the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this State." |
| Voter Options | "For" or "Against" |
| Voter Turnout Requirement | Majority vote needed for approval |
| Opposition | Democracy NC, statewide advocates, multiple advocacy groups, Democrats |
| Support | North Carolina GOP |
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What You'll Learn
Voting eligibility
In 2024, North Carolina voters will be faced with a ballot measure that could amend the state constitution's current language on voting laws. The "citizens-only" amendment would change the constitution to state that only a citizen of the United States, who is 18 years of age and meets the other qualifications for voting, is entitled to vote in any election in the state.
The current entry in the North Carolina constitution limits voting to "every person born in the United States and every other person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age." It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal or state elections.
The "citizens-only" amendment has been largely championed by Republicans, who argue that it is necessary to protect the integrity of elections, amid growing false claims that non-citizens are voting illegally. Opponents of the measure, including Democracy NC, have urged voters to vote against the amendment, stating that it is unnecessary, may confuse naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote, and perpetuates anti-immigration sentiment.
If more than 50% of North Carolina voters approve the amendment, it will go into effect on January 1st of the following year. The primary way to amend the Constitution of North Carolina is by a vote of the qualified voters of the state. The General Assembly must first pass a law by a three-fifths vote of the members of both the House and Senate, which then puts an amendment on a statewide election ballot on a specified date.
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Non-citizen voting laws
The 2024 North Carolina ballot includes a measure that would amend the state constitution's current language on voting laws. This "citizens-only" voting amendment proposes to change the state constitution's language to reiterate that only US citizens can vote in the state. The proposed amendment reads:
> Constitutional amendment to provide that only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and otherwise possesses the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this state.
Voters will be able to vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" the measure. Voting "AGAINST" the amendment would leave the language in the state constitution unchanged, and noncitizens would still not be allowed to vote. Multiple advocacy groups and Democrats have opposed the ballot measure, arguing that it is unnecessary and may confuse immigrant voters who are legally allowed to vote. They also argue that the amendment would sow division across communities, promote mistrust in elections, and perpetuate anti-immigration hate and racism.
On the other hand, the North Carolina GOP supports the amendment, stating that the "disastrous policies" of President Joe Biden and the Democrats "demonstrate this amendment is needed". They argue that the Democrats have shown no interest in solving problems at the Southern border or protecting the integrity of elections. The amendment was also largely championed by Republicans across the country, amid growing false claims that noncitizens are voting illegally in US elections, although data shows that this problem is virtually non-existent.
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Ballot measures
The North Carolina State Legislature can refer statewide ballot measures in the form of constitutional amendments and bond issues. A constitutional amendment can be put on a statewide election ballot if it passes with a 60% vote in each legislative chamber, which amounts to a minimum of 72 votes in the North Carolina House of Representatives and 30 votes in the North Carolina Senate.
In 2024, the North Carolina ballot includes a measure that would amend the state constitution's current language on voting laws. The "citizens-only" voting amendment would change the constitution to state that only a citizen of the United States, who is 18 years of age and meets the qualifications for voting, is entitled to vote in any election in the state. The current constitution states that voting is limited to "every person born in the United States and every other person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age."
Supporters of the amendment, including the North Carolina GOP, argue that it is necessary to protect the integrity of elections, particularly in light of concerns about non-citizen voting and issues at the Southern border. However, opponents, including Democracy NC, argue that the amendment is unnecessary, as it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote, and that it may create confusion among immigrant voters who are legally allowed to vote. They also criticize the amendment for perpetuating anti-immigration sentiment and sowing division within communities.
If more than 50% of North Carolina voters approve the amendment, it will go into effect on January 1 of the following year.
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Democracy NC's stance
Democracy NC has called on voters to reject the "citizens-only voting" constitutional amendment, arguing that it is unnecessary and harmful to vulnerable communities. The amendment seeks to change the state constitution's language on who can vote in North Carolina elections. However, Democracy NC emphasizes that existing state and federal laws already require U.S. citizenship for voting, and robust election safeguards are in place to ensure only qualified citizens cast ballots. They believe that the amendment sows division, promotes mistrust in elections, and perpetuates anti-immigration sentiments. Katelin Kaiser, the Policy Director, asserts that certain politicians are using the amendment to spread lies about immigrants and voting, creating doubt about election outcomes.
Democracy NC is not alone in its opposition to the amendment. Multiple advocacy groups and Democrats have criticized the ballot measure, sharing similar concerns. Chavi Khanna Koneru, co-founder and executive director of NC Asian Americans Together, characterized the amendment as "an insidious change to the constitution," arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent and creates barriers for eligible North Carolinians. Greensboro Democratic Rep. Pricey Harrison echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that the amendment addresses a non-existent problem and could deter new citizens from voting.
The amendment has sparked debates about the integrity of elections and the impact of conspiracy theories. Democracy NC referred to the amendment as a "bigoted conspiracy theory," accusing extremist lawmakers of rewriting the state's constitution to exclude immigrants. On the other hand, the North Carolina GOP supports the amendment, criticizing President Joe Biden and the Democrats for their handling of the southern border and election integrity. They believe the amendment is necessary to protect the integrity of elections.
The "citizens-only voting" amendment has highlighted the national divide along party lines, with Republicans largely championing the measure and Democrats opposing it. Despite these differences, the amendment will be decided by North Carolina voters. If more than 50% of voters approve, the amendment will go into effect on January 1, 2025, changing the language of the state constitution without altering existing voting laws. Democracy NC, however, urges voters to consider the potential harm to vulnerable communities and the perpetuation of anti-immigration sentiments if the amendment passes.
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State legislature
In North Carolina, the state legislature can refer statewide ballot measures in the form of constitutional amendments. For a constitutional amendment to be referred to the ballot, there must be a 60% vote in each legislative chamber during a single legislative session. This amounts to a minimum of 72 votes in the North Carolina House of Representatives and 30 votes in the North Carolina Senate, assuming no vacancies.
In June 2024, the state legislature voted with a sweeping majority to put a "citizens-only" voting amendment on the November ballot for voters to consider. The proposed amendment reads:
> Constitutional amendment to provide that only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and otherwise possesses the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this State.
The current entry in the North Carolina constitution states that voting is limited to "every person born in the United States and every other person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age." The amendment would change the constitution's language to reiterate that only US citizens can vote in the state. However, it would not change existing voting laws, as it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal or state elections.
Supporters of the amendment, including the North Carolina GOP, argue that it is necessary to protect the integrity of elections. On the other hand, multiple advocacy groups and Democrats have come out against the ballot measure, saying it is unnecessary and will create confusion among immigrant voters who are legally allowed to vote. They argue that the amendment perpetuates anti-immigration sentiments and sows division across communities.
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Frequently asked questions
The 'citizens-only' amendment is a constitutional amendment that would change the state constitution's current language on who can vote in elections. It would reiterate that only citizens of the United States who are 18 years of age and possess the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote in North Carolina state elections.
The amendment's proponents, including the North Carolina GOP, argue that it is necessary to protect the integrity of elections, citing concerns about non-citizen voting. However, opponents argue that it is redundant and may confuse naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote.
The primary way to amend the North Carolina Constitution is by a vote of the state's qualified voters. The General Assembly first passes a law by a three-fifths vote in both the House and Senate, which puts a constitutional amendment on a statewide election ballot. If more than 50% of North Carolina voters approve the amendment, it will go into effect.
