North Dakota Voters Could Amend Their Constitution to Clarify That Only U.S. Citizens Can Vote
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What the Initiative Does
Measure 2 would amend the North Dakota Constitution to clarify that only U.S. citizens may vote in federal, state, and local elections in North Dakota.
Currently, state law already requires North Dakota voters to be U.S. citizens, but this measure’s proponents argue that laws are more easily changed than the constitution.
In Favor
Although North Dakota state law already requires voters to be U.S. citizens, statutory law is easier to change than the state constitution. Given how important it is that only citizens vote, it’d make sense to amend the state constitution to ensure that only citizens can vote.
Opposed
North Dakota state law already requires voters to be U.S. citizens. This ballot measure wouldn’t do anything to change the status quo if passed.
In-Depth
North Dakotans for Citizen Voting, chaired by District 35 State Sen. Gary Emineth (R), is leading the campaign in support of Measure 2. The organization has received over $210,000 in donations from Virginia-based Liberty Initiative Fund, a nonprofit that pushes measure on state and local ballots. North Dakotans for Citizen Voting says:
“Currently the constitution doesn't state that only U.S. citizens can vote - it says that U.S. citizens are eligible to vote. This measure clarifies it. There have been a few cases around the state where county auditors sought clarification. Non-citizens are already voting in Chicago, San Francisco and in 11 cities in Maryland. Voting is the fundamental and exclusive right of U.S. citizens. We welcome many people who choose to live temporarily or even permanently in North Dakota, or elsewhere in the United States. But if they want to vote in our elections, they should make the decision to become a U.S. citizen and go through that process. This initiative doesn’t deal with immigration or the problem of voter fraud. Our goal is simple and straightforward: make voting the exclusive right of U.S. citizens. People who support voting as the basic, fundamental right of U.S. citizens will support this ballot measure, and those who want non-citizens to vote will oppose it.”
Steven Morrison, a law professor at the University of North Dakota, argues that this measure wouldn’t change anything:
“Practically speaking, I don’t see how this would change anything. The question is do you have non-residents, non-citizens voting now?”
This measure qualified for the ballot with 32,000 valid signatures. A total of 26,904 signatures were required to qualify.
Summary by Lorelei Yang
(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / Sadeugra)
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