Source: WUNC
In a naked attempt to boost voter turnout among their base, state Republicans passed a measure this summer to add a constitutional amendment to this fall’s ballot. The proposed amendment would state that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections, despite state law already prohibiting noncitizens from voting.
In September, multiple advocacy groups came together to denounce the ballot measure and the harm it could cause. The groups included North Carolina Asian Americans Together, El Pueblo, Democracy North Carolina, Carolina Migrant Network, and Common Cause NC, among others.
The North Carolina constitution currently states that “every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized” can vote. The amendment would remove language about naturalized citizens.
The amendment “can open the door for future bills aimed at restricting or eliminating the right to vote of naturalized citizens,” said Mario Alfaro, policy manager at El Pueblo.
More than 400,000 naturalized citizens live in North Carolina. The amendment will generate fear and confusion that will deter new Americans from voting, said Chavi Khanna Koneru, co-founder and executive director of NC Asian Americans Together.
“This is an insidious change to the constitution that sets a dangerous precedent for setting up barriers for eligible North Carolinians to have a say in our future,” Koneru said.
The groups urged North Carolina voters to vote against the amendment. In-person early voting for this fall’s election starts Oct. 17.
