VOTE AGAINST THIS
ANTI-IMMIGRANT REFORM!
In the Nov. 5 election, North Carolina voters will have to respond to a referendum on a constitutional reform regarding voting rights in the state.
What is it about?
The reform proposes to rewrite Article 6 of the North Carolina Constitution to say in other words what is already established: that only U.S. citizens can vote.
What does the Constitution say now?
“Every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age, and who possesses the qualifications set out in this article, shall be entitled to vote at any election by the people of the state”.
What will it say if the reform is approved?
“Only a citizen of the United States who is 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”.
Why should you vote against this reform?
The State and U.S. Constitution already say that only citizens, by birth or naturalization, can vote and there are State and Federal laws that establish serious penalties for voting without eligibility.
Removing the phrase “naturalized citizens” from the constitution sends a message of exclusion to immigrants and can encourage hatred and racism against them.
It can confuse voters who are naturalized citizens and discourage them from voting in elections because of fear of getting in trouble just for exercising their right to vote.
This reform opens the door so that in the future laws can be passed to try to restrict the right to vote of naturalized citizens. since it removes a key voter protection language from our state’s constitution.
DON’T BE FOOLED!
The proposed constitutional amendment is just intended to create mistrust in our elections and perpetuate racist anti-immigrant sentiment. Vote AGAINST on your ballot this November!
