Proposed Amendment No. 1 - Act 279 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature proposing to amend Article I, Section 10 of the Louisiana Constitution

Summary

1. The present constitution provides that every citizen of Louisiana has the right to register and vote upon reaching 18 years of age; provides exceptions. 2. The proposed constitutional amendment expressly limits this right to vote to Louisiana and United States citizens. Prohibits allowing non U.S. citizens to register and vote.

A ""yes"" vote supports amending the constitution to explicitly allow only United States, Louisiana citizens from registering to vote.

A ""no"" vote supports maintaining the current constitution language to allow every Louisiana citizen above the age of 18, to register to vote.

Arguments

"Some municipalities in other states have allowed non-U.S. citizens to vote in their local elections." - Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, in support of Proposed Amendment No. 1 (Learn more)

"The amendment is unnecessary because Louisiana doesn't allow people who aren't United States citizens to vote in state elections, requiring those who register to vote to attest that they are citizens. No local governing authority in the state has tried to let non-U.S. citizens register to vote." - Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, in opposition to Proposed Amendment No. 1 (Learn more)

"The problem with a ballot measure like this is that it's going to lead to further division and further skepticism being fed around the election integrity process, and this notion that you have all of these illegals or people who don't belong here or people who are some kind of way being snuck into the country who shouldn't be voting that are voting, and we now have to put this on the ballot." - Rep. Royce Duplessis, in opposition to Proposed Amendment No. 1 (Learn more)

"This proposed constitutional amendment will further ensure that our elections remain fair, accurate and transparent by enshrining in our state's cornerstone document that only American and Louisiana citizens may vote in our state and local elections." - Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, in support of Proposed Amendment No. 1 (Learn more)

Measure Details