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Polls suggest a strong public backing for the amendment, with at least 80 percent of South Carolinians in favor, indicating likely passage during the general election this fall. Kimbrell underscored the bipartisan appeal of the amendment: “This is something that everyone should agree with. Protecting voting rights is important. We shouldn’t have people who aren’t citizens of South Carolina or the country voting in any election, whether it’s a school board race, a city election or a statewide race.”
The amendment itself proposes a succinct yet significant change to the state constitution, ensuring clarity by specifying that only U.S. citizens who are at least eighteen years old and properly registered can vote, thus closing any potential legal loopholes.
Avi McCullah, President of Americans for Citizen Voting, hailed this legislative development. “This is a tremendous victory for the citizens of South Carolina,” McCullah stated. His organization works with states to draft legislation that ensures voting is restricted to citizens, highlighting that “Most state constitutions do not specifically prohibit foreign citizen voting,” a fact not widely known, even among legislators.
The push for citizens-only voting is not isolated to South Carolina. Similar measures are set to appear on ballots in Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, and Wisconsin this November. Such amendments are part of a broader national trend, with several states including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, and North Dakota recently adopting similar constitutional restrictions.
ALERT! Major Water Restrictions In Effect!
Moreover, last month’s decision by the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals has further fueled the debate on election integrity. The court ruled in favor of the Republican National Committee regarding signature verification standards for mail-in voting in Pennsylvania—a decision that could influence election protocols in other swing states as well.
As the November elections approach, South Carolina stands at the forefront of a national movement aimed at redefining who has the right to vote, with clear implications for the future of American democracy and the sanctity of its elections.
