“What we’d like to have is clear unambiguous language in the North Carolina Constitution that says only United States citizens can vote,”

— Andy Jackson, John Locke Foundation

(From the May 29, 2024 Carolina Journal article, “North Carolina House Republicans back constitutional amendment for citizens-only voting”)

Leading Republicans in the North Carolina House of Representatives are backing an effort to amend the state constitution by saying only U.S. citizens can vote.

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and other top Republicans in the chamber have filed a bill that would put the question to voters this fall.

“What we’d like to have is clear unambiguous language in the North Carolina Constitution that says only United States citizens can vote,” said Andy Jackson, who studies elections at the conservative John Locke Foundation. “This is really something to nip this in the bud rather than pushing back an active attempt.”

Currently, the state constitution says “every person born in the United States and every person has been naturalized, 18 years of age” is eligible to vote in the state.

The proposed amendment would rewrite that to read, “Only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age” can vote.

Jackson said the existing language “kind of sets the floor, but it doesn’t really set the ceiling about who is not allowed to vote.”

Read the entire article here.