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What is the 'citizens-only' voting amendment on 2024 North Carolina ballot?

2024 Primary Election Day in North Carolina
Matt Ramey
/
For WUNC
A voter casts his ballot at The Church at Clayton Crossings during the primary election on March 5, 2024.

In addition to president, governor, and a slew of state and local races, North Carolina voters will see something else on their ballots on election day: an amendment that would change the language in the state constitution around noncitizens voting.

What is it?

Voters will see it under a “REFERENDA” section on their ballot. Underneath, it will say “Constitutional Amendment” and will read:

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.

Voters will be able to vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the measure.

It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal or state elections. The current entry in the North Carolina constitution says that voting is limited to “every person born in the United States and every other person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age.”

What does a vote FOR mean?

A vote for the amendment would change the language in the state constitution to: “Only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age” and remove language about naturalized citizens.

Supporters of the amendment, like Republican House Speaker Tim Moore, says it’s about “shutting the door” on any potential legal challenge.

"The concern is looking down the road, and we're seeing what's happened in some other states where some activist judges have come in and tried to find loopholes to allow non-citizens to vote," Moore said.

The WUNC Politics Podcast is a free-flowing discussion of what we're hearing in the back hallways of the General Assembly and on the campaign trail across North Carolina.

What does a vote AGAINST mean?

A vote against the amendment would leave the language in the state constitution unchanged. Noncitizens would still legally not be allowed to vote.

Multiple advocacy groups and democrats have come out against the ballot measure, saying it’s unnecessary and will sow confusion among immigrant voters who are legally allowed to vote.

“This is an insidious change to the constitution that sets a dangerous precedent for setting up barriers for eligible North Carolinians to have a say in our future,” said Chavi Khanna Koneru, co-founder and executive director of NC Asian Americans Together.


Dave DeWitt is WUNC's Supervising Editor for Politics and Education. As an editor, reporter, and producer he's covered politics, environment, education, sports, and a wide range of other topics.