By: Davis Seik

On election day, North Carolina residents voted on the citizens-only ballot referendum, with 77.6%  voting for and 22.4% voting against, according to NBC. The only counties that voted against the Amendment were Orange and Durham counties.

 

Voters in Wisconsin, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Carolina decided on a similar change. These states join Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota and Iowa as states that explicitly outlaw noncitizen voting.

 

The North Carolina Constitution currently reads that “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 referendum changes the wording about naturalized citizens voting, from “every person born … and every person who has been naturalized” to “only a citizen.”

 

This change will not impact who can vote or register to vote, it only changes the wording of the constitution. 

 

Some against this referendum claim it is a direct attack on naturalized citizens and their right to vote. 

 

“We believe as an organization that this sets a dangerous precedent for the future,” Veronica Aquilar, communications director for El Pueblo, said. “It also could create confusion and possibly fear within the immigrant community.”

 

The new wording could confuse people on who exactly can vote in North Carolina. Taking out the word ‘naturalized’ could confuse naturalized citizens into thinking they do not have the right to vote. The change could also allow a judge to rule against allowing naturalized citizens to vote at all in the future, said Aguilar..

 

Many in favor of the change claim it is just a wording change to simplify the meaning of the constitution. 

 

This amendment came after noncitizens gained the ability to vote in select local elections in San Francisco, various cities in Vermont, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

 

The change to the North Carolina Constitution would ensure non-citizen voting is strictly prohibited across the state..

 

Another potential reason for creating the referendum could be to mobilize Republican voters. After the 2020 presidential election, there were outcries from the Republican party that its  presidential nominee, Donald Trump,lost  the election due to  noncitizens voting for President Joe Biden. 

 

These claims were proven false, but the campaign may  have planted the idea in people’s heads that  illegal immigrants are voting in federal elections.

 

“It’s very obvious that only citizens can vote. And the ballot referendum states that clearly in the language, we believe that, a lot of people believe, like we do, that it’s unnecessary,” Aquilar said. “This is already something, citizens are the only ones who can vote in our elections. That’s in our state constitution. That is in our nation’s constitution.”

 

The law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

 

Edited by: Landon Jobe & Will Kleinschmidt