Early voting locations open next week for the 2018 Midterm elections, when North Carolinians will not only be able to vote for their district’s representatives, but also six proposed North Carolina Constitutional amendments.
The registration deadline for voting ends Friday for North Carolina. The following is a list of the six proposed North Carolina constitutional amendments on the ballot for the Midterm elections.
Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment
Would establish a state constitutional right to fish, hunt and harvest wildlife in North Carolina. According to the amendment’s text, this right would be subject to statutes that “promote wildlife conservation and management and preserve the future of hunting and fishing.” To manage and control wildlife, public hunting and fishing is preferred.
Marsy’s Law Amendment
Proposes to provide crime victims with certain rights upon their request. A full list of the rights granted to victims upon request can be found here.
Income Tax Cap Amendment
Would lower the North Carolina’s Constitutional maximum allowable state income tax rate to seven percent, meaning that the state government could not raise the rate above this number. The current maximum rate is 10 percent. The current personal income tax rate in North Carolina is 5.499 percent.
Voter ID Amendment
Would require voters to present a photo ID if voting in person. Laws to govern the requirement would need to be established if the amendment passes.
Legislative Appointments to Elections Board and Commissions Amendment
Would give the responsibility of appointing commissioners to the Bipartisan State Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement to the North Carolina State Legislature. The board, which administers ethics and election laws, will be made up of eight members selected from lists of candidates from the chamber’s majority leader and minority leader. Four will be selected by the state Senate President Pro Tempore and four by the state House Speaker. The board currently has nine members who are appointed by the governor.
Judicial Selection for Midterm Vacancies Amendment
Would create a new system to fill judicial vacancies that happen between judicial elections of our state courts. The new system would create a nine-member commission (the Nonpartisan Judicial Merit Commission) to select possible appointees. The governor currently appoints a person to the vacant seat, who then serves until the next election cycle.
Early voting opens next Wednesday. More information on the above amendments can be located here.
