x
Breaking News
More () »

Election Day 2018 | Explainer of All 6 Amendments the NC Ballot

Only half of voters polled even knew there would be amendments on the ballot, and just 8 percent had heard a lot about them.

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Very few people know about the six proposed constitutional amendments that will appear on ballets across the state, according to a September Elon poll.

Only half of voters polled even knew there would be amendments on the ballot, and just 8 percent had heard a lot about them.

"Our primary goal was to figure out do voters really know what's going on with these constitutional amendments, and our answer was: most don't," said Elon Professor Jason Husser.

So here's what you need to know about the six proposed changes to North Carolina's constitution:

VOTER ID

How it will appear on the ballot: "Constitutional amendment to require voters to provide photo identification before voting in person."

What that means: According to the NC Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission the amendment "requires you to show photographic identification to a poll-worker before you can vote in person. It does not apply to absentee voting. The Legislature would make laws providing the details of acceptable and unacceptable forms of photographic identification after passage of the proposed amendment. The Legislature would be authorized to establish exceptions to the requirement to present photographic identification before voting. However, it is not required to make any exceptions. There are no further details at this time on how voters could acquire valid photographic identification for the purposes of voting. There is no official estimate of how much this proposal would cost if it is approved."

TAX CAP

How it will appear on the ballot: "Constitutional amendment to reduce the income tax rate in North Carolina to a maximum allowable rate of seven percent (7%)."

What that means: According to the NC Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission "The current maximum personal and corporate income tax rate in our State Constitution is 10%. This proposed amendment makes the new limit 7%. This proposed amendment does not reduce your current taxes. It does not change the current individual income tax rate of 5.499%, and it does not change the current corporate income tax rate of 3%. Instead, it limits how much the state income tax rate could go up. This proposed amendment applies only to state income taxes. It does not affect sales taxes, property taxes, or federal taxes. Income taxes are one of the ways State government raises the money to pay for core services such as public education, public health, and public safety. The proposed amendment does not include any exceptions. Therefore, in times of disaster or recession, the State could have to take measures such as cutting core services, raising sales taxes or fees, or increasing borrowing."

VICTIMS' RIGHTS AMENDMENT

How it will appear on the ballot: "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."

What that means: According to the NC Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission, "currently, the North Carolina Constitution guarantees victims of certain crimes the following rights:

• The right to be informed of and present at proceedings related to the accused.

• The right to be heard at sentencing of the accused.

• The right to receive restitution.

• The right to information regarding the crime, how the criminal justice system works, and the rights

and services available to victims.

• The right to be informed about the final result of the case.

• The right to be informed of an escape, release, or pardon.

• The right to express views to the Governor or

appropriate agency considering release.

• The right to confer with the prosecutor.

If this amendment is adopted, the Constitution would also guarantee victims the following rights:

• To be treated with dignity and respect.

• Reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of a proceeding, upon request.

• To be present at any proceeding, upon request.

• To be reasonably heard at additional kinds of court hearings.

• Restitution in a reasonably timely manner, when ordered by the court.

• Information about the crime, upon request.

• To reasonably confer with the prosecutor.

Today, victims have legal rights if the crime was a major felony, certain domestic violence cases, or

one of several other kinds of serious crimes. The amendment would expand the types of offenses that trigger victims’ rights to include all crimes against the person and felony property crimes. These rights would also apply in these cases if committed by juveniles.

This amendment directs the Legislature to create a procedure, by motion to the court, for a victim to assert his or her rights. Nothing in this proposed amendment creates a claim against the State or allows the victim to challenge any decision the court makes. The defendant may not use failure to provide these rights as a ground for relief in any civil or criminal matter.

The public fiscal note that accompanied this legislation estimates that these changes to our justice system will cost about $11 million per year."

HUNTING AND FISHING

How it will appear on the ballot: "Constitutional amendment protecting the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife."

What that means: According to the NC Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission "This amendment would acknowledge the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife, and to use traditional methods to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife. The amendment does not define “traditional methods.” This right would be subject to laws passed by the Legislature and rules (i) to promote wildlife conservation and management and (ii) to preserve th e future of hunting and fishing. If it passes, the amendment will not affect any laws regarding trespassing, property rights or eminent domain. The amendment does not address its effect on local laws concerning public safety or on commercial hunting and fishing. The amendment would also establish that public hunting and fishing are a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife."

BOARD OF ELECTIONS

How it will appear on the ballot: "Constitutional amendment to establish an eight-member Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Elections Enforcement in the Constitution to administer ethics and elections law."

What that means: Right now the Board is made up of 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans and 1 unaffiliated member. This would remove the unaffiliated member who is often a tie-breaker. It would also take the power away from the Governor to appoint these board members and give that power to the Legislature.

JUDICAL APPOINTMENTS

How it will appear on the ballot: "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."

What that means: This amendment would take away power from the Governor to appoint a replacement judge if one dies, retires or quits. It would instead transfer the power to nominate replacements to the State Supreme Court and the Legislature.

Before You Leave, Check This Out