This decision is tied to House Bill 1074, also known as the "Citizen Only Voting" amendment, which proposes a modification to the state's constitution to specify that only citizens can vote in the state.
According to Fox News, the current law in North Carolina states 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." Although noncitizens are already prohibited from voting, advocates of the amendment argue that it would bolster confidence in elections, particularly in light of the ongoing immigration crisis.
If the amendment is approved, the revised language would specify 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." North Carolina GOP Chairman Jason Simmons underscored the importance of this change, stating, "Ensuring that only U.S. Citizens in North Carolina can vote is a critical step that is needed in order to have confidence in our elections."
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Supporters of the amendment view it as a preventative measure. State Sen. Brad Overcash, R-Gaston, expressed concern about the efforts of Democrats in left-leaning cities and states to allow noncitizens to vote. He stated, "The best defense we can mount against these attacks on democracy is to empower the people of North Carolina to amend their own constitution to state that only U.S. citizens shall vote in our elections."
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Despite its support, the amendment has faced criticism. Detractors argue that it is an unnecessary, anti-immigrant tactic that could further marginalize North Carolina’s immigrant communities. Jasmina Nogo, staff attorney with the Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project at the NC Justice Center, voiced her concerns, stating, "As an immigrant to North Carolina who went through the grueling process of naturalization so that I could become a citizen and participate in democracy by voting, I fear that this proposed change in the language of our constitution is a stepping stone to further disenfranchising and disempowering us and our communities."
With early voting having commenced on October 17, over a million ballots have already been cast in North Carolina, indicating the high level of public interest in this issue.