Simone Lawson
North Carolina's 2024 ballot includes a measure to amend the state constitution's current language on voting laws. This citizens-only amendment is largely seen as an attempt to prevent naturalized citizens from exercising their right to vote, guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. The amendment is based on the false claim that non-citizens are voting illegally in U.S. elections. Critics argue that it will confuse voters, spread anti-immigrant sentiment, and create unnecessary barriers for eligible voters, particularly marginalized communities. The amendment is part of a series of proposed changes to the state constitution, which critics argue are rushed, harmful, and threaten civil rights and liberties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for the amendment | To address the reemergence of the myth that non-citizens are participating in federal and state elections |
| Who is against the amendment | Democracy NC, ACLU of North Carolina, North Carolina Asian Americans Together, El Pueblo, Carolina Migrant Network Inc., Forward Justice Action Network, N.C. For the People Action, NC Justice Center, NC Counts Coalition, Common Cause North Ca |
| Who is for the amendment | Republican lawmakers, extremist lawmakers |
| Impact on naturalized citizens | May prevent them from exercising their right to vote |
| Impact on the economy | Negative, as immigrants have contributed meaningfully to the state’s workforce and economy |
| Impact on the constitution | Unnecessarily rewrites a provision that has served North Carolina for more than a century |
| Impact on elections | Sows confusion and doubt |
| Impact on civil rights | Threatens many of the civil rights and civil liberties that are supposed to be protected |
| Impact on marginalized communities | Restricts voting access for marginalized voters, including people of color, low-income voters, rural voters, the elderly, people with disabilities, and transgender North Carolinians |
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What You'll Learn
- The amendment is redundant and will not change existing law
- It will cause confusion and may prevent eligible citizens from voting
- It perpetuates anti-immigrant hate and racism
- It is a tactic used by election deniers and politicians to spread misinformation
- It will bring unintended consequences and threaten civil rights
The amendment is redundant and will not change existing law
The proposed amendment to the North Carolina constitution is redundant and will not change existing law. The current state constitution already ensures the freedom to vote for "every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized." The Fourteenth Amendment affirms that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" are citizens, and the Fifteenth Amendment upholds the "right of citizens of the United States to vote."
The North Carolina Constitution does not provide non-citizens with the right to vote. The proposed amendment, known as the "citizens-only" ballot measure, seeks to change the wording of the state constitution to state that only citizens may vote in elections. However, this amendment will not change the fact that only citizens, whether born in the U.S. or naturalized, have the right to vote in North Carolina. Federal law also maintains that the right to vote is reserved for citizens, both born and naturalized.
The amendment is being promoted by certain politicians to spread lies about immigrants and voting, creating doubt about elections. It is an attempt to block the votes of newcomers who have gone through the naturalization process and taken the oath to become citizens. The amendment may also confuse naturalized citizens and prevent them from exercising their fundamental right to vote. More than a third of all immigrants in North Carolina are naturalized U.S. citizens, and they contribute significantly to the state's economy.
The amendment is unnecessary and will not change who can and cannot vote in North Carolina. It is a divisive tactic that promotes hatred towards immigrant communities and sows division across communities. It perpetuates anti-immigration sentiments and racism. The amendment is part of a larger effort to suppress votes and create barriers for eligible North Carolinians to have a say in their future.
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It will cause confusion and may prevent eligible citizens from voting
The proposed amendment to the North Carolina constitution is rooted in the "great replacement theory", a harmful conspiracy theory rooted in white nationalism and anti-Semitism. It perpetuates anti-immigration hate and racism by spreading lies about immigrants and voting, creating doubt about elections. This amendment will not change the law, which already provides that only citizens, whether born in the U.S. or naturalized, have the right to vote in North Carolina. Federal law also maintains that the right to vote is reserved for citizens, both born and naturalized.
The proposed amendment aims to confuse voters and stir up anti-immigrant sentiment. It removes the term "naturalization" from the constitutional voting qualifications, which may prevent naturalized citizens from exercising their right to vote. More than a third of all immigrants in North Carolina are naturalized U.S. citizens, and they contribute significantly to the state's workforce and economy. Their collective spending power amounts to $22 billion, while their tax contributions surpass $7 billion.
The amendment is a divisive tactic used by election deniers and certain politicians to promote hatred towards immigrant communities. It distracts from real issues impacting North Carolinians and harms new Americans who have the right to vote but may face barriers due to confusion over the amendment. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has numerous safeguards in place to ensure that only eligible voters can participate in elections, including registration requirements, state-mandated IDs, and verification checks.
The amendment is part of a larger scheme to block the votes of newcomers who have gone through the naturalization process and taken the oath to become citizens. It is essential to reject this amendment to ensure that all Americans, naturalized or U.S.-born, know that they can freely cast their ballots without unnecessary barriers.
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It perpetuates anti-immigrant hate and racism
The proposed constitutional amendment in North Carolina's 2024 General Election ballot has been criticised for perpetuating anti-immigrant hate and racism. The amendment seeks to change the wording of the state constitution to state that only citizens may vote in elections. However, this is seen by some as an attempt to stir up anti-immigrant sentiment and create confusion among naturalized citizens about their voting rights.
The current state constitution already ensures the freedom to vote for "every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized". The proposed amendment is based on the false claim that non-citizens are voting illegally in U.S. elections, a myth rooted in the \"great replacement theory\" and white nationalism. In reality, data shows that this problem is virtually non-existent. By focusing on this non-existent issue, the amendment promotes hatred towards immigrant communities and sows division across communities.
Removing the term "naturalization" from the constitutional voting qualifications may prevent naturalized citizens from exercising their fundamental right to vote. More than a third of all immigrants in North Carolina are naturalized U.S. citizens, and they contribute significantly to the state's workforce and economy. Their spending power amounts to $22 billion, while their tax contributions surpass $7 billion.
The amendment has been described as an "insidious change to the constitution" that sets a dangerous precedent for creating barriers for eligible North Carolinians to have a say in their future. It is part of a larger effort to spread misinformation about immigrants and voting, create doubt about elections, and distract from the unpopular agenda of far-right extremists. By voting against this amendment, North Carolinians can reject these divisive tactics and ensure that all eligible citizens, including naturalized Americans, can freely cast their ballots.
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It is a tactic used by election deniers and politicians to spread misinformation
The proposed amendment to the North Carolina constitution is a tactic used by election deniers and politicians to spread misinformation. It is a calculated scheme to block the votes of immigrants who have been naturalized and have become citizens. The amendment seeks to change the wording of the state constitution to state that only citizens may vote in elections. This is based on the "great replacement theory", a harmful lie rooted in white nationalism and anti-Semitism.
The amendment is an attempt to spread misinformation about immigrants and voting, creating doubt about elections. It perpetuates anti-immigration hate and racism, with politicians spreading lies about immigrants to sow doubts about an election and distract from their unpopular agenda. The amendment promotes the false narrative that non-citizens are voting illegally in U.S. elections, despite data showing that this problem is virtually non-existent. By focusing on non-existent problems, the amendment distracts from real issues impacting North Carolinians and harms new Americans who have the right to vote.
The current North Carolina constitution already ensures the freedom to vote for "every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized." The proposed amendment would unnecessarily rewrite this provision, creating confusion and chilling the voting rights of naturalized citizens. Removing the term "naturalization" from the constitutional voting qualifications may prevent naturalized citizens from exercising their fundamental right to vote, guaranteed to all U.S. citizens. This amendment sets a dangerous precedent for erecting barriers to eligible North Carolinians' ability to participate in deciding their future.
The amendment is also part of a broader pattern of efforts to suppress votes. The North Carolina State Board of Elections is facing frivolous lawsuits that aim to remove voters from the rolls without proper verification, disproportionately affecting naturalized citizens. Additionally, the proposed amendment to require photo identification for voting would disproportionately impact marginalized voters, including people of color, low-income voters, rural voters, the elderly, people with disabilities, and transgender individuals. These unnecessary hurdles placed between voters and their fundamental right to vote threaten to silence their voices.
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It will bring unintended consequences and threaten civil rights
The proposed North Carolina constitutional amendments have been criticized for their potential to bring about unintended consequences and threaten civil rights.
One such amendment, known as the "citizens-only" voting amendment, seeks to change the wording of the state constitution to state that only citizens may vote in elections. This amendment has been deemed unnecessary, as federal and state laws already require U.S. citizenship to vote, and robust election safeguards are in place to ensure only qualified citizens cast ballots. The amendment has been accused of spreading misinformation, sowing division, and promoting anti-immigration sentiment and racism. It may also create confusion and chill the voting rights of naturalized citizens, who make up a significant portion of North Carolina's population and contribute meaningfully to its economy.
Another amendment, known as "Marsy's Law," aims to strengthen protections for victims of crime by enshrining certain absolute basic rights for them into the state constitution. While this may seem positive, the full impact of these changes is still debated, and there are concerns about the high costs of implementation and ongoing expenses. Critics argue that it may restrict the state's ability to adjust related laws and could potentially silence the voices of law-abiding, registered voters by placing unnecessary hurdles between them and their right to vote.
Additionally, there is an amendment to require voters to provide photo identification before casting an in-person ballot. This amendment has been criticized for its potential to restrict voting access for marginalized groups, including people of color, low-income voters, rural voters, the elderly, people with disabilities, and transgender individuals, who may disproportionately lack or face challenges in obtaining photo identification.
The North Carolina General Assembly has been accused of rushing these amendments through a contentious process with little to no debate or explanation of their potential impact. As a result, critics argue that these amendments could have unintended consequences and threaten the civil rights that the state's constitution aims to protect.
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Frequently asked questions
The amendment is an attempt by certain politicians to spread misinformation about immigrants and voting so they can create doubt about elections that don’t go their way. The amendment is also unnecessary and will not change the law.
The amendment is about changing the wording of the state constitution to state that only citizens may vote in elections.
The amendment will create confusion and may prevent naturalized citizens from exercising their fundamental right to vote. It will also stir up anti-immigrant rhetoric and harm new Americans who have the right to vote.
The argument against the amendment is that it is an attempt to block the votes of newcomers who have gone through the naturalization process and taken the oath to become citizens. The amendment is also seen as a divisive tactic used by election deniers and politicians to promote hatred towards immigrant communities.
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