North Carolina voters weigh amendment to explicitly bar noncitizens from voting

North Carolinians heading to the polls this year may be surprised to find a ballot measure proposing an amendment to the state constitution requiring all eligible voters to be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age — restrictions already enforced by state and federal law. So why are North Carolina voters being asked to weigh in on the issue?

The referendum is the product of House Bill 1074, a bill passed by the General Assembly in June to change the definition of eligible voters from “every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized” who is 18 to “only U.S. citizens” meeting age and eligibility requirements.

Wake Forest University professor John Dinan, who specializes in state constitutions, wrote in an email that the bill will have no effect on federal elections, such as presidential and congressional races, where federal law explicitly prohibits noncitizens from voting. The only question is whether there exists any ambiguity in North Carolina law, which courts currently understand to prohibit noncitizens from participating in state and local elections.

Proponents say the change is needed to prevent future reinterpretations of the current constitution that could open the door to state and local voting by noncitizens. Opponents say the existing language is unequivocal, and that the proposed change only serves to raise anti-immigrant fervor and deter legal voters from participating in elections.



https://ncnewsline.com/2024/10/23/north-carolina-amendment-noncitizen-voting/