The “citizens-only” voting amendment on North Carolina ballots, which removes language regarding naturalized citizens voting, has been passed with 76.9% of the vote.

The constitutional amendment will remove the word “naturalized” from the NC state constitution. However, naturalized citizens, people who were born outside of the U.S. and obtained citizenship, are still citizens and can vote in elections.

On North Carolina ballots, the amendment read: “Constitutional amendment to provide that only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and otherwise possessing the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this state.”

Republicans, who hold supermajorities in the House and Senate, put the amendment on the ballot after the General Assembly passed HB 1074 with at least a three-fifths majority. 

In a press release, the NCGOP argued the change in constitutional language will help protect the integrity of elections by establishing citizen-only voting. 

“Ensuring that only U.S. Citizens in North Carolina can vote is a critical step that is needed in order to have confidence in our elections,” said NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons. “We applaud our Republican legislators in both chambers who worked hard in this effort and the NCGOP will put our full support behind this amendment in the November General Election.”

It is illegal in any state for a noncitizen to vote in a federal election and no state currently allows noncitizens to vote in statewide elections. Although a few cities such as San Francisco, Calif., allow non-citizens to vote in local elections.

The amendment does not change the law that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in federal elections; however, the future of voter rights for naturalized citizens remains unclear.