On September 11, 2018 the Governing Board of the North Carolina Council of Churches unanimously approved a statement in opposition to the six constitutional amendments that will appear on the ballot in North Carolina this fall. That statement, in part, reads:
“The North Carolina Council of Churches rejects manipulation of the state Constitution that enables one branch of government to impose its will on another, that abuses the amendment process for partisan gain and that facilitates a radical agenda harmful to the state’s well-being and in conflict with justice guidelines followed by the Council. We stand against the proposed amendments for the damage they are likely to do and for the cynical manner in which they are being pursued.”
You can read the full statement by clicking here. Below you will find the language for each amendment as it will appear on the ballot as well as additional resources and further analysis on the anticipated effects each would have on North Carolinians. Please share this information with others that you know so that together we can vet the vote.
Click here to download a helpful voter guide.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment #1
Constitutional amendment protecting the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife.
Meaningless or dangerous? Hunting and fishing constitutional amendment raises huge questions
Proposed Constitutional Amendment #2
Constitutional amendment to strengthen protections for victims of crime; to establish certain absolute basic rights for victims; and to ensure the enforcement of these rights.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment #3
Constitutional amendment to reduce the income tax rate in North Carolina to a maximum allowable rate of seven percent (7%).
The state income tax cap amendment is bad news. Here’s why.
Reading the Fine Print: The Proposed Amendment to Cap the Income Tax Rate
Income Tax Cap Fact Sheet
Proposed Constitutional Amendment #4
Constitutional amendment to require voters to provide photo identification before voting in person.
Our view: Voter ID is still a bad idea
NC Republican: I’ve changed my mind on voter ID
Proposed Constitutional Amendment #5
Constitutional amendment to change the process for filling judicial vacancies that occur between judicial elections from a process in which the Governor has sole appointment power to a process in which the people of the State nominate individuals to fill vacancies by way of a commission comprised of appointees made by the judicial, executive, and legislative branches charged with making recommendations to the legislature as to which nominees are deemed qualified; then the legislature will recommend at least two nominees to the Governor via legislative action not subject to gubernatorial veto; and the Governor will appoint judges from among these nominees.
Don’t be fooled by deceptive amendments
Proposed Constitutional Amendment #6
Constitutional amendment to establish an eight-member Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Elections Enforcement in the Constitution to administer ethics and elections law.
Keep N.C. government in balance, accountable
Overview Information on All Six Proposed Amendments
From NC Child
From NC Policy Watch of the NC Justice Center
From the ACLU of North Carolina
From Democracy NC
From the NC Center for Nonprofits
From By The People
Our friends at Common Cause NC have been asking all candidates for the NC General Assembly if they pledge to support the creation of an independent, nonpartisan redistricting process for congressional and legislative districts in the upcoming 2019 legislative session. Click here to find out where the candidates in your district stand on this critical issue.
Click here to find important Election Day information such as your registration status, register to find, view polling places, see a sample ballot along with nonpartisan information on the candidates, and more.
The State Board also wants to remind voters of their voting options in North Carolina. Any registered voter may:
- Vote by mail (no excuse is needed)
- Vote during the in-person early voting period from October 17 through November 3, or
- Vote on Election Day, November 6. The regular voter registration deadline is 5 p.m. October 12. Eligible individuals may also register during the early voting period.
In the weeks leading up to election day the Council is publishing a series of pieces highlighting important issues people of faith should keep in mind when they cast their ballots. You can find all of that information here:
- Vetting the Vote: Gun Sanity
- On the Ballot: Harmful Changes to State Constitution
- Vetting the Vote: North Carolina’s Involvement in Torture
- Vetting the Vote: Climate Change
- Vetting the Vote: Support N.C. Workers
- Vetting the Vote: Medicaid Expansion
- Statement of Opposition to Constitutional Amendments
- Vetting the Vote