A non-profit organization officially has launched its campaign in support of Kentucky’s proposed amendment to codify that only American citizens can vote in state elections.
Americans for Citizens Voting held a press conference September 12 on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol in support of Amendment 1, which will be on the ballot in this fall’s general election.
The group is beginning its campaign with a digital ad featuring naturalized and first-generation Americans talking about the importance of being a United States citizen to vote.
“Voting is a fundamental right and privilege of American citizenship,” said Tres Watson, Kentucky spokesperson for Americans for Citizens Voting. “While federal elections are already protected, Amendment 1 is about maintaining the sanctity of our state and especially local elections and ensuring that every vote cast is cast by an eligible voter.
““It’s sad that this amendment is necessary, as it should be common sense that only citizens be allowed to vote However, in other states, the unfortunate decision has been made to allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections, causing confusion administering elections at the precinct level. Amendment 1 would simply prevent local governments in Kentucky from taking similar actions.”
ACV says Amendment 1, if passed, would amend the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to specify that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in local, state and federal elections. The amendment would align Kentucky with numerous other states that have taken similar steps to protect their elections and ensure that their citizens have full confidence in the electoral process.
“As I travel my district, immigration is one of the top concerns I hear from my constituents,” said Rep. Michael Lee Meredith, who sponsored the amendment in the Kentucky House of Representatives. “This amendment simply closes a loophole in the Kentucky Constitution to make clear that you must be a citizen to vote in elections in Kentucky.”
The state Senate sponsor agreed.
“By passing this constitution, we give the people of Kentucky the final decision on who votes in our elections rather than the courts,” Senator Jason Howell (R-Murray) said.
Kentucky lawmakers passed Senate Bill 143 earlier this year. The amendment would “explicitly affirm that only United States citizens are eligible to vote in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
“It’s odd we don’t already have this spelled out in our Constitution,” Howell previously said. “While this is specifically prohibited at the federal level, it isn’t addressed here in Kentucky.
“This is about protecting citizens and the thousands of people who’ve lawfully navigated the immigration process. One of the rewards of doing so is earning the right to vote.”
Supporters say the bill is meant to secure the electoral process and uphold the principle of voting rights. Because it received a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate, the proposed constitutional amendment will be put on the fall general election ballot for voters to decide.
Currently, Sections 145 and 155 of the Constitution of Kentucky include three categories of people ineligible to vote. They are those found guilty of high crimes against the country, such as treason, convicted felons and those deemed mentally incompetent.
“This bill marks a crucial milestone in ensuring the integrity of our elections,” Meredith (R-Oakand) said when the mirror HB341 legislation passed January 30.
The ballot measure would ask voters if they want to “prohibit persons who are not citizens of the United States from being allowed to vote in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.” The actual wording that would be added to the state Constitution would say, “No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in said elections.”
“Voting is one of our most important rights and the one by which we ensure all the rest,” Meredith said on the floor. “We have an obligation to protect it. And I appreciate my colleagues taking a stand and passing this measure. …
“What we have seen in other states is some local governments having changed their local charters under similar Constitutional language in those states, to allow non-citizens to vote during elections in their jurisdictions.”
Critics have said the legislation is unnecessary.
“This measure simply codifies in the state constitution our existing policy of not permitting non-citizens to vote in Kentucky elections,” said Michon Lindstrom from Secretary of State Michael Adams’ office.
But Meredith disagreed.
“We seek to get ahead of this before it happens in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” he said during a floor debate.
Americans for Citizen Voting is working has kicked off the campaign in Kentucky and seven other states where similar measures on the ballot this fall. The other states are Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin.