Isabella Carter
Ahead of the 2024 General Election, polls in North Carolina suggest that voters are largely uninformed about a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the state constitution's language on voting laws. The amendment, known as the citizens-only amendment, aims to reiterate that only U.S. citizens aged 18 and above can vote in state elections. While supporters argue it clarifies existing law, critics claim it promotes anti-immigration sentiment and could confuse naturalized citizens about their voting rights. With early voting already underway, North Carolina voters will ultimately decide the amendment's fate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Poll | November 2018 |
| Number of Amendments | 6 |
| Political Party Support | Republicans support all 6 amendments; Democrats oppose all 6 |
| Voter Understanding | Most people don't know much about the amendments |
| Voter ID Amendment | 1 in 4 respondents said the description didn't give enough information to make a decision |
| Voter Turnout | 89% plan to vote; 56% know there will be amendments; 8% have heard a lot about the amendments |
| Amendment Topics | Hunting, victims' rights, voting laws |
| Latest Amendment Date | 2024 |
| Amendment Topic | Voting laws |
| Amendment Details | Change the state constitution's language to specify that only US citizens can vote |
| Supporters | North Carolina GOP, state lawmakers, state Sen. Brad Overcash |
| Opponents | Democracy NC, Katelin Kaiser (Policy Director), Jimmy Patel-Nguyen (NC Asian Americans Together communications director) |
| Voting Date | November 5, 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
- North Carolina voters are largely uneducated about the proposed amendments
- The 2024 amendment would change the state constitution's language on who can vote
- The amendment is based on the great replacement theory, a harmful, racist conspiracy theory
- The amendment will go into effect if it receives more than 50% of votes
- The amendment may cause confusion and discourage voting among immigrant communities
North Carolina voters are largely uneducated about the proposed amendments
North Carolina voters have historically been uninformed about proposed constitutional amendments. In the 2018 midterm elections, voters were largely uneducated about the six proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, despite efforts from both the Republican and Democratic parties to sway voters to their respective positions. A poll from Elon University found that while 89% of respondents planned to vote in November, only 56% knew there would be amendments on the ballot, and a mere 8% claimed to have heard a lot about what the amendments would do. This lack of awareness is concerning, given that the amendments could have a significant and lasting impact on the state.
The proposed amendments in 2018 included measures such as the voter ID amendment, which aimed to stop voter fraud. However, one in four respondents to the Elon Poll stated that the description of this amendment on the ballot did not provide enough information for them to make an informed decision. This lack of clarity left voters confused, with some even believing that the amendment would increase voter fraud, which is almost non-existent in North Carolina. The state's history of infrequent constitutional amendments may have contributed to this lack of understanding among voters.
Fast forward to 2024, and North Carolina voters once again find themselves facing a proposed constitutional amendment on their ballots. This amendment, known as the "citizens-only" amendment, seeks to change the state constitution's language on voting laws. The amendment reiterates that only U.S. citizens who are 18 years of age and meet the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote in state elections. While the amendment does not change the existing law, which already prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal or state elections, it has sparked concerns about its potential impact on naturalized citizens' voter turnout.
The 2024 amendment has also been criticized for perpetuating anti-immigration sentiments and promoting mistrust in elections. Some worry that the vague language and disinformation surrounding the amendment could confuse new Americans and have a chilling effect on voter turnout. Despite these concerns, the amendment received bipartisan support in the state legislature and is backed by the North Carolina GOP, who argue that it is necessary to protect the integrity of elections. However, Democracy NC and other advocates are urging voters to reject the amendment, highlighting its potential harm to vulnerable communities.
While the 2024 amendment differs from the 2018 amendments in terms of content and context, it continues to highlight the challenge of ensuring that voters are well-informed about proposed constitutional changes. Educating voters about the potential implications of amendments is crucial, especially when controversial issues are at stake. As Jason Husser, the director of the Elon Poll, noted, voters should not be making permanent decisions based on limited information.
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The 2024 amendment would change the state constitution's language on who can vote
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 state constitution states that "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."
Some people are worried that naturalized citizens who immigrated to the country won't realize they still have the right to vote. Jimmy Patel-Nguyen, communications director for North Carolina Asian Americans Together, said he fears the amendment could stymie voter turnout for naturalized citizens, who make up 44% of all immigrants in North Carolina. "Creating this vague language on the backs of this disinformation about noncitizens voting in elections really could confuse new Americans who are just learning about participating in the electoral process," Patel-Nguyen said. "The concern is that it could really have a chilling effect on the turnout in this election and beyond."
Some have also accused lawmakers of introducing this amendment to spread lies about immigrants and voting to sow doubt about elections they fear won’t go their way. Katelin Kaiser, Policy Director, said: "Certain politicians have introduced this amendment to spread lies about immigrants and voting to sow doubt about elections they fear won’t go their way." Lawmakers like Overcash, however, claim that the amendment is necessary for clarification and to bring certainty to the state of North Carolina.
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The amendment is based on the great replacement theory, a harmful, racist conspiracy theory
The "citizens-only voting" constitutional amendment in North Carolina has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it perpetuates racism and is rooted in the harmful ""great replacement theory." This theory, based on white nationalism and anti-Semitism, has been long debunked but has reemerged in the state legislature, promoted by extremist lawmakers.
The amendment seeks to change the wording of the state constitution to specify that "only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and possesses the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote." While proponents argue it clarifies existing law, opponents contend that it sows division, promotes mistrust in elections, and targets immigrant communities with hateful rhetoric. The amendment has passed in the General Assembly, and voters will decide its fate in the 2024 General Election.
The current state constitution in North Carolina allows voting for "every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age, and possessing the qualifications." The proposed amendment replaces "every" with "only," emphasizing that only U.S. citizens can vote. This change, critics argue, is unnecessary and harmful. They highlight that non-citizen voting is already exceedingly rare and illegal in state and federal elections.
Supporters of the amendment, including the North Carolina GOP, claim it is necessary due to the ""disastrous policies" of President Joe Biden and Democrats regarding the southern border and election integrity. They argue that the amendment provides clarification to prevent non-citizen voting, which they believe is an existing problem. However, critics counter that this claim is a myth and that the amendment will disproportionately affect immigrant communities, potentially confusing new Americans about their right to vote and decreasing voter turnout among naturalized citizens.
The amendment has faced strong opposition from groups like Democracy NC, which urges voters to reject it. They argue that the amendment distorts the state constitution and rewrites a provision that has served North Carolina for over a century. Katelin Kaiser, Policy Director, asserts that politicians introduced this amendment to spread lies about immigrants and voting, creating doubt about elections. The amendment's impact extends beyond voting laws, perpetuating anti-immigration sentiment and promoting racist ideologies associated with the great replacement theory.
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The amendment will go into effect if it receives more than 50% of votes
The 2024 ballot in North Carolina includes a measure to amend the state constitution's current language on voting laws. This "'citizens-only' amendment has sparked controversy, with some arguing that it perpetuates anti-immigration sentiments and sows doubt about election integrity. The amendment proposes changing the wording to specify 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 in any election in this state".
The amendment will go into effect if it receives more than 50% of the votes. This is in accordance with state law, which mandates a majority vote for amendments to be approved. The current language in the state constitution already restricts voting to citizens who are 18 or older, in alignment with federal laws. However, proponents of the amendment argue that it seeks to clarify that noncitizens cannot vote, addressing concerns about noncitizen participation in elections.
Opponents of the amendment, such as Democracy NC, urge voters to reject it, claiming that it promotes division and mistrust in elections. They argue that the amendment is unnecessary, as state and federal laws already require U.S. citizenship for voting. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on naturalized citizens' voter turnout, with worries that vague language and disinformation could confuse new Americans about their voting rights.
The amendment has received bipartisan support, passing with backing from the Republican-controlled state legislature. However, it's important to note that a poll by Elon University found that most voters lacked sufficient knowledge about the amendments, with many misunderstanding their potential effects. This highlights the need for voters to be well-informed about the implications of any constitutional changes they are asked to decide on.
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The amendment may cause confusion and discourage voting among immigrant communities
The 2024 North Carolina ballot includes a "citizens-only" voting amendment that has sparked concerns about its potential impact on immigrant communities. The amendment proposes to change the state constitution's language on voting rights, specifying 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." While the amendment does not change the existing law that prohibits non-citizens from voting, critics argue that it may cause confusion and discourage voting among immigrants.
The amendment has been criticized for perpetuating anti-immigration sentiments and promoting mistrust in elections. Katelin Kaiser, Policy Director, stated that politicians introduced the amendment to "spread lies about immigrants and voting to sow doubt about elections they fear won’t go their way." The amendment is based on the debunked myth of non-citizen participation in elections, rooted in the "great replacement theory," a conspiracy theory associated with white nationalism and anti-Semitism.
Some naturalized citizens have expressed worry that the amendment's vague language could lead to confusion about their voting rights. Jimmy Patel-Nguyen, communications director for North Carolina Asian Americans Together, fears that the amendment could decrease voter turnout among naturalized citizens, who comprise 44% of immigrants in North Carolina. He highlights the potential for "chilling effects" on voter participation due to the spread of disinformation about non-citizen voting.
The amendment's proponents argue that it aims to clarify existing laws and protect election integrity. State Sen. Brad Overcash, the amendment's sponsor, stated that they wanted to address concerns about non-citizen voting in other states and municipalities. However, critics like Mario Alfaro counter that the amendment is "very dangerous" for immigrant communities as it opens the door for confusion and the potential perception of losing voting rights.
While the amendment has sparked debate, it is essential to note that it does not change the eligibility requirements for voting. Naturalized citizens will retain their right to vote, and the amendment primarily seeks to reinforce existing laws. Nonetheless, the concerns raised highlight the potential unintended consequences of such amendments, emphasizing the importance of voter education and addressing disinformation to ensure that all eligible voters feel empowered to participate in the democratic process.
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Frequently asked questions
The "citizens only voting" amendment in North Carolina seeks to change the state constitution's language on voting laws. The amendment will specify that only citizens of the United States who are 18 years or older can vote in the state.
Polls show that while a majority of North Carolina voters plan to vote in the November 2018 midterm elections, only 56% know about the six proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. Most people don't know much about the amendments, and some think they would have the opposite effect of what they intend to.
There are concerns that the amendment is unnecessary and could cause confusion, especially among naturalized citizens. Some fear it may reduce voter turnout for naturalized citizens and open the door to redefining citizenship. There are also accusations that Republicans put this amendment on the ballot to get more voters to the polls.
