Eleanor Finch
In 2024, North Carolina voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would change the state constitution's current language on voting laws. The amendment, which will be on the November ballot, would 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 at any election in this state. For the amendment to be approved and take effect, it requires a simple majority vote (more than 50%) of North Carolina voters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Amendment Vote | November 2024 Election |
| % of Votes Required for Amendment to Pass | Majority (over 50%) |
| Who Can Vote | All North Carolinians |
| Who Proposed the Amendment | Republican state lawmakers |
| Who Supports the Amendment | North Carolina GOP |
| Who Opposes the Amendment | Democracy NC |
| Previous Stage of Amendment | Passed with bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled state legislature |
| Previous Stage Approval % | 77% |
| Previous Stage Voter Turnout | Over 30% |
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What You'll Learn
The majority of votes needed
In North Carolina, a majority of votes—specifically, more than 50%—are required to approve a constitutional amendment. The state legislature must first approve the amendment with a supermajority of three-fifths of all lawmakers in the General Assembly before it can be put on the ballot for voters to consider. If a majority of voters approve the amendment, it will be ratified and take effect.
In the case of the 2024 "citizens-only" voting amendment, the state legislature voted with a sweeping majority in June 2024 to put the amendment on the November ballot. Early voting results showed the amendment passing with 77% of the votes in favour. If ratified, the amendment will take effect on January 1, 2025, and the state constitution will be changed 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 at any election in this state."
The amendment has been championed by Republicans and opposed by Democrats. Republicans argue that it clarifies state law that noncitizens cannot vote, while Democrats argue that the amendment is redundant and may cause confusion among naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote. Despite these differences, the amendment received bipartisan support in the state legislature and passed with more than two-thirds of the votes in favour.
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'Citizens-only' voting amendment
In 2024, North Carolina voters will decide on a "citizens-only" voting amendment to the state constitution. 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 amendment has been largely championed by Republicans, who argue that it is necessary to prevent noncitizens from voting illegally in U.S. elections. However, data shows that this problem is virtually nonexistent. Opponents of the measure, including Democrats, have argued that the amendment is redundant and may unnecessarily confuse naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote.
To get on the ballot, the amendment required the approval of three-fifths of all lawmakers in the General Assembly, a threshold it easily passed. For the amendment to be enacted, it will require a simple majority (over 50%) of North Carolina voters.
Some have expressed concern that the amendment may prevent naturalized citizens from exercising their right to vote. Removing the term "naturalization" from the constitutional voting qualifications may cause confusion and chill the voting rights of naturalized citizens.
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Voting laws unchanged
In 2024, North Carolina voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would change the state constitution's language on voting laws. 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 amendment will not change existing voting laws, and voting rights are guaranteed in the state constitution. However, it has sparked debate, with opponents arguing that it is redundant and may confuse naturalized citizens about their voting rights. Supporters of the amendment, including Republican state lawmakers, claim it clarifies that noncitizens cannot vote, which is already illegal and rare in state and federal elections.
For the amendment to be approved and added to the constitution, it requires a simple majority vote—more than 50%—from North Carolina voters. This is in contrast to the process of getting the amendment on the ballot, which required supermajority votes, or three-fifths of all lawmakers in the General Assembly, to pass.
As of November 2024, the citizens-only voting amendment has passed, with 77% of votes in favor, according to unofficial State Board of Elections results. This means that the amendment will take effect on January 1, 2025, as per state law. Despite the passage, voting laws remain unchanged, and it is still unlawful for noncitizens to vote in federal and state elections.
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Ballot measures
In 2024, North Carolina voters will decide on a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution's current language on voting laws. The ballot measure, known as the "citizens-only" amendment, seeks to change the wording of 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 is a response to concerns about non-citizen voting, despite state data indicating that non-citizen voting is rare.
The ballot measure has sparked controversy, with opponents arguing that it is unnecessary and may confuse naturalized citizens about their voting rights. However, proponents of the measure, including Republican state lawmakers, assert that it clarifies existing state law and protects the integrity of elections. The amendment required supermajority votes in both chambers to be placed on the ballot and has drawn bipartisan support.
For the amendment to be ratified, it requires a simple majority vote (more than 50%) of North Carolina voters. If passed, the amendment will take effect on January 1st, according to state law. However, if the measure fails to receive a majority of the votes, the state constitution will remain unchanged, and it will continue to be unlawful for non-citizens to vote in federal and state elections.
The potential implications of the amendment have been widely discussed. Some fear that it could discourage voter turnout among naturalized citizens, who make up a significant portion of the immigrant population in North Carolina. Others argue that it opens the door for further legislation to narrow voter eligibility. However, proponents of the amendment insist that it implicitly includes naturalized citizens and is necessary to ensure only citizens can vote in local elections, as has been the case in some municipalities in other states.
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Voter eligibility
In 2024, a proposed amendment to the state constitution, known as the "citizens-only" amendment, was put to a vote. This amendment sought to change the language around voter eligibility to specify 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." The amendment did not propose to change the existing voting laws but rather to clarify that only U.S. citizens can vote in North Carolina elections.
The "citizens-only" amendment sparked debate among North Carolinians. Supporters of the amendment, including Republican state lawmakers, argued that it was necessary to clarify that noncitizens cannot vote in state and federal elections. They pointed to court cases that had interpreted the existing constitution as allowing noncitizens to vote. Additionally, they highlighted instances of noncitizen voting in other states and wanted to ensure that North Carolina laws explicitly prohibited this practice.
Opponents of the amendment, including Democrats, argued that it was redundant and unnecessary, as it did not change existing voting laws. They also raised concerns that the amendment could confuse naturalized citizens about their right to vote and potentially discourage them from participating in elections. Some critics suggested that the amendment was politically motivated, aiming to attract conservative voters and draw attention to issues around illegal immigration.
To appear on the ballot, the amendment required approval from three-fifths of the lawmakers in the General Assembly, which it easily secured. For the amendment to be ratified and enacted, it needed a simple majority vote (over 50%) from North Carolina voters, which it ultimately received with 77% of the votes in favor.
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Frequently asked questions
A simple majority (50% of votes) is required for a constitutional amendment to pass in North Carolina.
The 'citizens-only' amendment is a ballot measure that seeks to amend the North Carolina state constitution's current language on voting laws.
The amendment will change the wording to specify that only citizens of the United States who are 18 years or older can vote in North Carolina elections.
The amendment was approved by the state legislature in June 2024 to be included on the November 2024 ballot.
The amendment has passed with 77% of the votes in favor.
