Asheville – As the November elections approach, North Carolina finds itself at the center of a heated debate over voting rights. Voters in eight states, including the Tar Heel State, will decide whether to restrict voting to U.S. citizens only. This move comes in response to a growing trend of municipalities allowing foreign citizens to participate in local elections, a practice that has sparked concern among many lawmakers and citizens alike.
The Rise of Non-Citizen Voting
The push for the Citizen-Only Voting Amendment in North Carolina is largely motivated by recent developments in other states. “The non-citizen voting movement has been gaining momentum with non-citizen voting taking root in Vermont and Washington, DC in the last few years,” said Jack Tomczak, Vice President of Outreach for Americans for Citizen Voting. “New York City is attempting to allow 900,000 foreign citizens to vote. It was determined by the authors to get ahead of any potential attempts to legalize non-citizen voting in North Carolina.”
Currently, only twelve state constitutions reserve the right to vote for U.S. citizens. The amendment aims to ensure that North Carolina becomes one of those states, especially as foreign citizen voting is already legal in cities across California, Illinois, Maryland, and more.
Clarifying Misinformation on Voting Rights
One of the key issues surrounding this amendment is the misinformation that often clouds discussions about non-citizen voting. “Every news article that says that non-citizen voting is not happening in this country is wrong,” Tomczak explained. “It’s happening in 19 cities across four states.” He emphasized that the media coverage has largely focused on illegal non-citizen voting in federal elections, which is a different issue altogether from the state and local elections governed by the proposed amendments.
Tomczak pointed out that if a municipality in North Carolina were currently allowing non-citizen voting, it would be breaking the law. “To our knowledge, no municipality in North Carolina is currently permitting non-citizen voting,” he said. “If I’m wrong and a municipality is allowing non-citizen voting right now, it would no longer be allowed if the amendment passes.”
Public Support for Citizen-Only Voting
Feedback from constituents has been overwhelmingly positive regarding the Citizen-Only Voting Amendment. “The feedback we have received matches our polling; the people of North Carolina are overwhelmingly supportive of Citizen Only Voting,” Tomczak noted. This sentiment reflects a broader concern among voters about maintaining the integrity of their electoral process.
As North Carolina prepares for its vote, the implications of this amendment could extend beyond state lines. Tomczak anticipates that if the eight states pass their Citizen-Only Voting Amendments in November, it may pave the way for similar legislation in other states before the 2026 election. “After the eight Citizen Only Voting Amendments pass in November, we anticipate more state legislatures passing similar amendments,” he said.
In conclusion, as North Carolina voters head to the polls this November, they will not only be deciding on their own voting rights but also potentially influencing the future landscape of voting legislation across the country. The debate over who gets to vote is far from over, and the outcome in North Carolina could set a precedent for other states grappling with similar issues.