GREENSBORO, N.C. — As if the Presidential or the North Carolina Governor's race wasn't enough to get people talking, then there's a Constitutional Amendment. It's at the bottom of every ballot in our state and it reads:
Constitutional Amendment to provide that only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and otherwise possessing the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this state.
Right now in North Carolina to vote you have to be a citizen and you have to be 18 years old. So, why are we voting on something that is already the law?
"It's basically a political exercise. All they're doing is changing the wording," said Thom Little, UNCG Political Science professor. The current state constitution says:
"Every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized..."
If passed, the wording will change to 'only a citizen of the United States.'
"So taking naturalized out again legally, it doesn't change a thing because whether you're born here or a naturalized citizen, you're a citizen," said Little.
Then why is this on the ballot?
"This was put on the ballot by the Republican supermajority in the House and Senate. Then, the political side of this is, they hope will drive some conservatives to the polls," said Litle.
Immigration is one of the main issues of this election, it brings people to the polls. A handful of other states with Republican-led legislatures also have this on the ballot.
