By Lydia Allen 
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Julie Carr Smyth
This November, 150 million Americans cast their ballots in the election for the 47th President of the United States. Alongside this pivotal race, voters decided on congressional candidates and debated controversial state amendments, including Florida’s Amendments 3 and 4, which addressed abortion and marijuana use.
Ballot measures often feature complex legal language that can confuse voters. For example, a referendum from Wisconsin’s ballot asked:
“Shall section 1 of article III of the constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state, or local office or at a statewide or local referendum?”
In simpler terms, the referendum proposed replacing “every United States citizen” in state constitutions with “only a United States citizen,” effectively codifying that only citizens may vote in elections at all levels. While federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections under Section 611a of the U.S. Code, some local jurisdictions allow non-citizen voting in municipal elections. A “yes” vote on this amendment affirmed the restriction of voting rights exclusively to citizens.
Voters in eight states—North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin—considered this referendum. These states, most of which lean Republican, delivered their electoral votes to President-elect Donald Trump, mirroring the 2020 election results, with Wisconsin being the only previously blue state.
The referendum resonated with Republican voters amid ongoing concerns about voter fraud. In April, NPR reported that nine states had passed laws aimed at identifying and removing non-citizens from voter rolls. Despite federal restrictions, the issue remained significant enough to prompt statewide referenda.
All eight states approved the amendment, with varying levels of support:
- Kentucky and Idaho: ~65% voted “yes,” while less than 40% voted “no.”
- Missouri: 68% voted “yes,” 32% voted “no.”
- Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Carolina: Between 70–80% voted “yes,” with 22–29% voting “no.”
- Oklahoma: 81% voted “yes,” 19% voted “no.”
- South Carolina: 86% voted “yes,” the highest approval rate, with 14% voting “no.”
The amendments passed unanimously, with approval rates ranging from 62% to 86%.
These results highlight a growing consensus in these states against non-citizen voting, aligning with broader Republican concerns. While the 1996 federal prohibition on non-citizen voting remains in effect, the referendum’s success may influence discussions in Congress. A Republican-majority Congress, paired with a Trump administration, could push for a federal constitutional amendment echoing the states’ decisions.
The unanimous approval reflects an ongoing national debate over election integrity and voting rights, underscoring a trend of vocal opposition to non-citizen voting among constituents and lawmakers alike.