What does the constitutional amendment on the ballot mean?

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – While the race for president and governor might be getting the most attention right now, there is one issue at the bottom of the ballot that has some voters torn and confused.

The referendum reads: “Constitutional amendment to provide that only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and possesses the qualifications to vote shall have the right to vote in any election in this State.”

Then there are options to vote for or against.

The election amendment comes from lawmakers in the state House and Senate, but has generated some confusion. It is already illegal to vote for the state if you are not a citizen or under 18 years old. Some wonder why they vote for something that is already considered law.

The key to the constitutional amendment is that it would change the wording of what is already in the constitution. The state constitution currently says: “Every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized, is 18 years of age, and possesses the qualifications set forth in this article, shall have the right to vote in any election held by the people of the State, except as otherwise provided herein.”

The constitutional amendment would eliminate the word “naturalized,” although people who become naturalized are considered citizens. Some in the Democratic Party say the amendment’s text encourages anti-immigrant rhetoric and is encouraging people to vote against it.

New Hanover County Democratic Party Chairwoman Jill Hopman sent us the following statement:

“The New Hanover County Democratic Party opposes the proposed constitutional amendment and strongly urges the public to vote against it. This is an ambiguous, unnecessary and dangerous fear-mongering tactic by Republicans disguised as politics. To be clear, it is already illegal for anyone who is not a citizen to vote. Instead, this amendment could limit the constitutional rights of naturalized citizens, redefine “voting qualifications,” and spread misinformation about the fairness and security behind our elections. Voter fraud, particularly by undocumented immigrants, is a myth, as countless studies have shown. “Republicans should stop creating fake problems and instead address the litany of real problems that exist, like affordable housing, public education and climate change.”

Meanwhile, New Hanover County Republican Party Chairman Nevin Carr III told WECT he couldn’t believe the amendment was controversial. The Republican Party is encouraging voters to vote yes.

“Have I heard that the Democratic Party is against this referendum? Incredible. You’d think we could at least agree that strengthening voter protections for American citizens is a good thing. On the other hand, if you have a mission to fundamentally transform this country, I suppose you need to fundamentally transform the electorate. For years, Democrats have been introducing millions of unauthorized immigrants into our communities, and now they are telling us why.”

That measure will be at the end of your vote. We’ll have the latest on the referendum on election night Nov. 5 on WECT News.