Poll Results: Constitutional Amendments

With supermajorities in both chambers, Republican legislators have the numbers to put constitutional amendments on the ballot in November without support from Democratic lawmakers.

We polled five potential amendments, ranging from voter ID to Supreme Court term limits. The results suggest the people of North Carolina would likely support adding all five to their governing document. Results and discussion are below.

“Would you vote YES, IN FAVOR, or NO, AGAINST. . .”

Reduce the maximum allowable income tax rate in North Carolina from seven percent to four percent.

By a +51 margin (71% in favor to 20% opposed), voters overwhelmingly support this proposal. Were this amendment to advance to the ballot, a sustained opposition campaign may dampen that margin a bit. But a similar campaign against the 2018 tax cap amendment didn’t come close to defeating it (the amendment passed 57%-42%).

Needless to say, we wholeheartedly support this concept. Lower taxes make for a more dynamic economy.

The crosstabs show support across party lines: 80% GOP, 74% UNA, and 59% DEM.

Prohibit non-citizens from voting in elections in North Carolina.

With immigration grabbing the attention of so many GOP and unaffiliated voters, it’s no surprise this proposal polls at 68% in favor to just 27% opposed (+41 margin).

Critics have billed this as a non-issue – a familiar tactic by politicians under fire from their left flank to dodge substantive discussion of popular policy proposals.

With immigration at the forefront of voters’ minds, and with some major cities looking to allow non-citizens to vote, it’s understandable that elected officials – driven by voter sentiment – may wish to advance this amendment.

Like the tax cap amendment, this one also enjoys majority support across party lines: 81% GOP, 70% UNA, and 54% DEM.

Require voters to provide photo identification before voting without exceptions.

Though left-leaning advocacy organizations and media outlets portray voter ID as some sort of controversial matter, it remains one of the most popular policies among regular voters.

Voters support this strict voter ID amendment by a 41-point margin, with 70% in favor and just 29% opposed.

Republicans in 2018 tried to find peace with Democrats and finally move on, passing one of the most permissive photo voter ID laws in the country. But far-left litigants couldn’t leave well enough alone, bogging the law down in lawsuits for the past six years.

If they’re going to fight all out over that voter ID policy, then legislators might as well go all the way and enact the stricter policy many voters would prefer.

Repeal the literacy test as a requirement to vote.

There’s generally some confusion or lack of awareness over the discriminatory history of the literacy test. This proposal yielded the highest percentage of “don’t know” responses in our poll.

Still, by an 11-point margin, voters support an amendment to repeal the literacy test (50%-39%), something that’s long been under consideration.

Adopt term limits for North Carolina Supreme Court justices limiting them to serving two, twelve-year terms.

This was the most popular proposal in our poll, earning a +55 margin of support (73% in favor, 18% opposed).

Interviews were conducted April 25-28, 2024, among N=500 registered voters. The margin of error is +/- 4.38%.