Voters in eight states on Nov. 5 approved constitutional amendments that say only citizens can vote, according to projections from The Associated Press.
Voters in Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wisconsin approved the measures, which were placed on ballots by Republican-held legislatures.
Idaho’s amendment says that “no person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be a qualified elector in any election held within the state of Idaho.”
Iowa’s amendment states that only adult citizens of the United States can vote in elections. It also allows 17-year-olds who will be 18 as of the next general election to vote in primaries.
Kentucky’s amendment says that “no person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in this state.”
Missouri’s amendment says “only citizens of the United States” can vote in elections.
North Carolina’s amendment states that “only a citizen of the United States” can vote in elections in North Carolina.
Oklahoma’s amendment says that “only citizens of the United States ... are qualified electors of this state.”
South Carolina’s amendment states that “only a citizen of the United States and of this State of the age of eighteen and upwards who is properly registered is entitled to vote as provided by law.”
Wisconsin’s amendment says that “only a United States citizen” can vote in national, state, and local elections.
Alabama, Colorado, Florida, North Dakota, and Ohio have also passed similar constitutional amendments since 2018.
“With the passage of Question 1, voters have delivered an unmistakable message: Wisconsin elections will be decided by U.S. citizens, not far-left activists who would turn the ballot box into a petri dish for extremist policies,” Brian Schimming, chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party, said in a statement.
Critics of the measures alleged they were not necessary.
The 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 states in part, “It shall be unlawful for any alien to vote in any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner.”
Some local jurisdictions have in recent years begun allowing illegal immigrants and other noncitizens to vote in local elections.
Some noncitizens have been identified as voting in non-local elections, including six in Ohio between 2008 and 2020, officials there said recently.
