Voters in six states decided ballot measures related to citizenship requirements for voting on Nov. 3. Here are the results and what they mean.
Voters approved five measures and defeated one. Each proposed explicitly limiting voting in state and local elections to U.S. citizens. Five sought to amend state constitutions, while Alaska’s measure sought to amend state law.
Federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections. These measures addressed eligibility for state and local elections. Arizona’s constitution already expressly limits voting to U.S. citizens.
Measures to establish citizenship requirements for voting:
- Alaska Ballot Measure 3: Approved. Voters approved a measure to amend state law to provide that only U.S. citizens may vote in any election.
- Arizona Proposition 144: Defeated. Voters defeated a constitutional amendment to provide that only citizens may register and vote in Arizona elections, along with changes to voter identification, campaign finance, and election administration.
- Arkansas Issue 1: Approved. Voters approved a constitutional amendment to provide that only U.S. citizens meeting voter qualifications may vote in elections in the state.
- Kansas citizenship voting requirement amendment: Approved. Voters approved a constitutional amendment to provide that a person must be a U.S. citizen to qualify as an elector.
- South Dakota Amendment J: Approved. Voters approved a constitutional amendment to disqualify noncitizens from voting in any election.
- West Virginia citizenship voting requirement amendment: Approved. Voters approved a constitutional amendment to provide that only state citizens who are also U.S. citizens are entitled to vote.
How this year compares: From 2018 through 2025, voters approved all 15 statewide citizenship voting requirement measures, with an average of 73% voting in favor. Eight appeared on the ballot in 2024. Local measures have moved in the opposite direction, proposing to authorize or expand noncitizen voting in municipal, county, or school elections. From 1991 through 2025, voters approved nine of those measures and defeated nine.
See Ballotpedia’s full results and analysis for measure summaries, campaign finance, endorsements, polls, legislative voting patterns, and historical context.
This article was originally published by Ballotpedia and is republished under its Creative Commons terms, unedited.