A Solution Without a Problem: LWVNC Opposes Unnecessary Efforts to Address Unfounded Claims of Non-Citizen Voting
News: 9/19/2024
In order to vote in North Carolina in 2024, there is no requisite for proof of citizenship. The League of Women Voters of North Carolina does not support proof of citizenship as part of the voter registration and voting processes. While N.C. election law does not require voters to present a social security number or N.C. driver’s license number when casting a ballot, the requirement on voter registration forms helps facilitate the process of verifying voting eligibility. And the attestation to citizenship question at the top of the voter registration form is required.
The statewide ballot in North Carolina includes a completely unnecessary constitutional amendment that seeks to clarify that only citizens can vote. The amendment builds on unfounded anti-immigrant fears and conspiracy theories that non-citizens are committing widespread voter fraud and threatening our elections. Existing North Carolina law makes it illegal for non-citizens to vote. Therefore, the proposed N.C. constitutional amendment prohibiting non-citizens from voting points to a problem that does not exist.
Problematic proposed federal legislation mirrors the N.C. constitutional amendment. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation is based on baseless claims about non-citizens voting in federal and state elections, and it is being used as a pretext to spread disinformation and undermine voting access. Were it to become law, the SAVE Act would require documentary proof of citizenship, creating barriers for all eligible Americans to participate in the registration and voting process.
Both the N.C. constitutional amendment and the SAVE Act are blatant attempts to erode voter confidence ahead of the November elections, based on lies about who is voting. They are rooted in an anti-immigrant agenda in direct opposition to this country’s values.