Citizens-only North Carolina constitution amendment passes, Associated Press says
A controversial amendment changing the state constitution to say that “only a citizen” of the United States can vote in North Carolina elections passed Tuesday, The Associated Press said.
With more than 30% of ballots cast, the amendment appeared headed for an easy passage with 77 percent of the votes in favor, unofficial State Board of Elections results showed.
Republican state lawmakers, including House Speaker Tim Moore, sponsored the legislation that put the amendment on the ballot. They and supporters said the amendment clarifies state law that noncitizens cannot vote.
The amendment legislation required supermajority votes in both chambers to be put on the ballot and drew bipartisan support. An effort in the House to attach a provision creating a bipartisan redistricting commission failed along party lines with Republicans against.
Opponents said the amendment was unnecessary, intended to push illegal immigration as an issue and to attract more conservatives to the polls. They also said that it could confuse naturalized citizens, who were not born in the United States, about their voting status.
The state constitution currently states:
“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.”
The amendment changes the constitution to say:
“Only a citizen of the United States who is 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.”
The amendment removes “naturalized” from the state constitution, though proponents say it implicitly includes those citizens.
It’s a crime under U.S. law for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. Municipalities in other states have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections, however, and proponents say the amendment would slam the door on any such efforts in North Carolina.
North Carolina is one of eight states to put a “citizens-only” amendment on the ballot for the November election, CNN reported.
