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8 states will vote to ban non-citizens from voting, CNN projects, something that is already illegal in federal elections


8 states will vote to ban non-citizens from voting, CNN projects, something that is already illegal in federal elections



CNN

CNN predicts voters in eight states, most of them heavily Republican, will favor ballot measures that require U.S. citizenship to vote, even though it is already illegal for non-citizens to cast ballots in federal elections.

The winning ballot measures in Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin come after House Republicans passed a bill with a similar goal this summer and former President Donald Trump and his allies stoked fears Voter fraud in the run-up to the election.

CNN reviewed Republican claims of widespread voting by non-citizens and found only a small number of examples of non-citizens voting in elections even though they were ineligible to do so. In a recent example, prosecutors in Michigan have charged a Chinese citizen with voter fraud and perjury after he allegedly cast a vote in the 2024 election.

Here are the state ballot measures to allow non-citizens to vote that are expected to be approved:

According to CNN projects, voters in Idaho will approve a ballot measure to amend the state's constitution to add a sentence that says non-citizens are barred from voting in all elections within the state.

The Idaho Constitution states that “every citizen of the United States, male or female,” who meets certain age and residency requirements is eligible to vote in the state.

Some municipalities across the country allow non-citizens to vote in certain local elections, including Washington, D.C., but none in Idaho.

CNN predicts that as part of a broader change to the state constitution, Iowa voters will approve a ballot measure that will respect the voting rights of non-citizens and also bring the voting age into line with the federal standard.

Iowa's constitution currently sets the required voting age at 21, although the country adheres to the 26th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which sets the voting age at 18.

The constitutional amendment changes the language to state that “only a citizen of the United States eighteen years of age” and only a resident of the state may vote. Both the age is changed and the phrase “only one citizen” is used “every citizen.”

Kentucky voters will approve a ballot measure to create an amendment to the state's constitution that states: “No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall vote in this State.”

The section of the Kentucky Constitution that this measure amends already lists citizenship as one of the requirements for voting.

According to CNN projects, voters in Missouri will approve an amendment to the state constitution that states that “only citizens of the United States” can vote in elections.

Currently, the state constitution states: “All citizens of the United States” over the age of 18 and those residing in Missouri “have the right to vote in all elections.”

The change also bans ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to rank candidates based on their preference.

According to CNN projects, voters in North Carolina will approve a ballot measure to amend the section of the state constitution that lists the requirements for voting.

The state constitution currently states that “every person born in the United States and every naturalized person” may vote in North Carolina as long as he or she is over 18 years of age and a resident. The proposed approval of the amendment will change the text to state that “only a citizen of the United States” who meets the other requirements may vote.

The projected outcome is a victory for the GOP supermajority in North Carolina, which brought the measure to the vote.

CNN predicts that Oklahoma voters will approve a ballot measure to amend the state's constitution to make “only” and not “all” citizens who are residents of the state and over the age of 18 “eligible to vote.”

The measure landed on the ballot after Oklahoma's Republican-dominated Legislature voted to advance it.

CNN predicts that South Carolina voters will approve an amendment to the state's constitution that says “only a citizen of the United States and this State” who is at least 18 years old and “duly registered” may vote.

The state constitution currently states that “every citizen” can vote if the other requirements are met.

The state's GOP-led Legislature passed a bill to put the measure on the ballot.

According to CNN projects, voters in Wisconsin will approve an amendment to the state constitution that would give non-citizens the right to vote.

The Wisconsin Constitution currently states that “every U.S. citizen” over the age of 18 and resident may vote. The projected result will change the wording so that “only” citizens can vote if they meet the other requirements.

The Republican-led state legislature voted to place the measure on the November ballot.

This story and headline have been updated.

CNN's Clare Foran, Haley Talbot and Daniel Dale contributed to this report.

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