What does the constitution say about who can vote?

Though it is already a crime for noncitizens to vote, proponents of the amendment say the current language in the North Carolina Constitution doesn’t go far enough.

The constitution states that “every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized … shall be entitled to vote.”

It does not specifically state who cannot vote, an omission Andy Jackson, director of the conservative Civitas Center for Public Integrity, said should be fixed.

“This is a fundamental question about how we run our Republic – who can vote and who can’t vote – I think that deserves to be in the Constitution,” he said.

Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause NC, a government watchdog group, said the passage of a citizens-only voting amendment would have no tangible impact.

“I can’t help but look at something like that and see it as just a vehicle to drive base voters,” he said.

U.S. law makes it a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections.

Overcash and other proponents of the amendment, however, have pointed to municipalities in other states that have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections, such as school board races.

State law prevents municipalities in North Carolina from enacting similar changes to voter eligibility. A constitutional amendment codifying that law would help shield it from potential litigation, Overcash said.

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