“It’s only fair to the citizens of this state that we ensure that only citizens are allowed to vote in this state, and this bill gives them the opportunity to decide that for themselves. I hear a lot from my friends on the other side of the aisle about democracy, and so I want to encourage you to please support this bill and let the people decide that only citizens are allowed to vote in North Carolina.”
— North Carolina Senator, Buck Newton
(From the July 8, 2024 Carolina Journal article, “Citizen-only voting in focus as towns nationwide expand voting to all residents”)
The North Carolina legislature has placed a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to ensure only eligible U.S. citizens can vote. The amendment, passed with overwhelming support in both the House (104-12) and Senate (40-4), aims to clarify and protect election integrity. Proponents argue it is necessary to prevent noncitizen voting, which has been allowed in some local elections in states like California, Maryland, and Vermont. Opponents view it as an unnecessary political move to increase Republican turnout.
Currently, noncitizen voting in federal elections is illegal, but some municipalities have granted local voting rights to noncitizens. In response, North Carolina lawmakers are among those in seven states seeking to prevent this trend. The North Carolina Constitution does not explicitly prohibit noncitizens from voting, creating potential for judicial interpretation.
Read the entire article here.