Citizens-only voting, photo ID and income tax changes could become NC amendments on 2024 ballots

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Senate is considering a slew of elections-related measures including three proposed constitutional amendments designed to give voters a say in the law-making process.

GOP senators are trying to advance the legislation quickly as an indefinite recess looms over the North Carolina General Assembly due to rocky budget negotiations. The bills — which passed a Senate elections committee on Thursday — deal with artificial intelligence in political advertisements, absentee ballot challenges and signature verification — as well as the three amendment proposals that could appear on ballots this fall.

“The opportunity before you today is to empower the people of North Carolina to amend their own state constitution,” Gaston County Republican Sen. Brad Overcash said in committee.

The proposed constitutional amendments would cover citizens-only voting, voter ID laws and income taxes. If the amendment projects are successfully enacted by the legislature, voters can cast their ballot for or against the referendums in November, making them law with a simple majority of votes.

To get a question on the ballot, it requires supermajorities — 72 House and 30 Senate members — to pass it. Referendums are not subject to Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto.

The first amendment — which also was proposed by House Republicans earlier this month — clarifies that only U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old and meet other qualifications “shall be entitled to vote at any election.” The Constitution originally stated that everyone who is born in the U.S. or was naturalized as a citizen can vote.

It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in U.S. elections, and the amendment does not appear to change any laws in