Message CITIZENONLYVOTINGAMENDMENTBRIEFING BOOKAMERICANS FOR CITIZEN VOTINGONLYCITIZENS.VOTE
I am a naturalized citizen of the United States. My mother and I moved here from Brazil when I was six and I was naturalized when I was 21. I worked hard for my citizenship and it means a lot to me. I chose to become an American and I chose to no longer be a Brazilian. To be allowed to vote in this country should require a person, if they were not born into citizenship, to make the same choice.Only United States citizens should vote in theUnited States. Period.COVA is on the ballot in Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Polling in these states and nationwide shows that the vast majority of Americansregardless of ideology, race, or gendersupport Citizen Only Voting. In this book you will nd all there is to know about the Citizen Only Voting Amendments (COVA) that Americans for Citizen Voting is has been working on for the last two years.Citizen Only Voting is not anti-immigrant as our cynical detractors allege. Naturalized citizens as a group are our most enthusiastic supporters. We’ve done the hard work to become citizens of this great country; we want that citizenship to mean something. To let people vote, who have not made the same commitment to this country is a slap in the face to the people who have.You will hear from some that “non-citizen voting is rare” and that it “doesn’t affect presidential elections.” The people who are saying these things are talking about illegal non-citizen voting in presidential elections. That is NOT what we are talking about. We are talking about the fact that legal non-citizen voting is happening in at least 19 municipalities across the country. It is legal in four states. These four states — California, Illinois, Maryland, Vermont — have constitutions, like most state constitutions, that do not guarantee the right to vote foronlyU.S. citizens.COVA changes state constitutions to explicitly guarantee thatonlyU.S. citizens are allowed to vote in state and local elections in that state.We advocate for citizen-only voting to safeguard our electoral process. Most of the cities, which have given the vote to noncitizens, also allow people in the country illegally to vote. This is terribly destructive of lawful and transparent elections. Moreover, it undermines our precious American citizenship, the very reason immigrants ock to our shores.Avi McCullahPresidentAmericans for Citizen Voting
AMERICANS FOR CITIZEN VOTINGONLYCITIZENS.VOTESTATEMENT OF PURPOSENoncitizens are voting right now — legally — in19 cities in three states and our nation’scapital. In most of those cities, people in theU.S. illegally are also allowed to vote.Citizen Only Voting Amendments are designedto put the issue of noncitizen voting — again,legal voting — in the hands of the people. Ifvoters approve these measures, statelegislatures and cities cannot give the vote tononcitizens without first providing the peopleof the state the chance to vote on it.
COVA: CITIZEN ONLY VOTING AMENDMENTSCOMMON MISCONCEPTIONS1. Federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting so COVA is unnecessary.Federal law does indeed prohibit non-citizens from voting in federal elections but it does not prohibit them from voting in state and local elections. COVA is for state constitutions to govern state and local elections.2. We require citizenship for voter registration so COVA is unnecessary.Every state (including the four which allow non-citizen voting in local elections) requires the voters be citizens of the United States. However, that does not apply to local elections. The municipalities that have non-citizen voting set up separate voter registration systems for non-citizens.3. COVA is cynical attempt to turn out Republicans for elections.Polls show massive support for COVA among people of all political parties and ideologies. COVA seems to be a Republican issue because of the partisan nature of the legislative votes in many states. Democrat voters support COVA and we welcome any and all Democrat legislators who are listening to the will of their constituents, and voters in their own party. It is worth noting that every Democrat legislator in Iowa voted for COVA twice.4. Non-citizen voting is already illegal.Most people assume that their state constitution already requires voters to be U.S. citizens. However, only twelve state constitutions reserve the right to vote for U.S. citizens. A state constitution must say that only U.S. citizens can vote or it must specically disqualify non-citizens from voting. If your state constitution says that “every U.S. citizen is eligible to vote” that doesn’t mean that non-citizens can’t also be allowed to vote.5. COVA is a reaction to Trump’s claim of voter fraud.COVA only affects state and local elections. COVA stops states and municipalities from legalizing non-citizen voting. COVA also does not deal with voter fraud. Voter fraud is already illegal. COVA has nothing to do with presidential elections.6. COVA is further evidence that Republicans can’t accept the 2020 presidential election.COVA has nothing to do with presidential elections.7. Studies have shown that non-citizenvoting in the presidential election israre and inconsequential.COVA has nothing to do with presidential elections.
CONTACT US AMERICANS FOR CITIZEN VOTINGONLYCITIZENS.VOTEFor Media Inquiries: Contact Jack Tomczak at 202-919-9558Email us: Info@onlycitizens.voteVisit Our Website: onlycitizens.vote
NONCITIZENSARE VOTING.RIGHT NOW.LEGALLY.CITIZEN-ONLY VOTING AMENDMENTBRIEFING BOOK
NON-CITIZENS ARE NOWVOTING LEGALLYIN 21 U.S. CITIESA VerifyThis.com investigation found that “more than a dozen municipalities allow undocumented immigrants to vote in some or all local elections.” Yes, over 70% of the U.S. cities allowing non-citizen voting also give the vote to those in the country illegally.Note: The New York City Council passed a measure allowing an estimated800,000 to one million non-citizens to vote in city elections. That measure is currently enjoined as part of an ongoing court challenge.Learn more about Citizen Only Voting at:ONLYCITIZENS.VOTE123456789101112131415161718192021OAKLAND, CALIFORNIASAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIAWASHINGTON, D.C.BARNESVILLE, MARYLANDCHEVY CHASE, MARYLANDCHEVERLY, MARYLANDEDMONSTON, MARYLANDFREDERICK, MARYLANDGARRETT PARK, MARYLANDGLEN ECHO, MARYLANDGREENBELT, MARYLANDHYATTSVILLE, MARYLANDMARTIN’S ADDITIONS, MARYLANDMOUNT RANIER, MARYLANDNEW CARROLLTON, MARYLANDRIVERDALE PARK, MARYLANDSOMERSET, MARYLANDTAKOMA PARK, MARYLANDBURLINGTON, VERMONTMONTPELIER, VERMONTWINOOSKI, VERMONT
FOREIGN CITIZEN VOTINGIS COMING TO YOUR STATE4FOREIGN CITIZEN VOTING STATESCITIZEN ONLY VOTING STATES2620STATES ARE UP FOR GRABSCaliforniaIllinoisMarylandVermontWashington, D.C.*including yours.Pennsylvania 1776Virgin ia 1776Wyoming 1889Utah 1895Arizona* 1962Minnesota 1974North Dakota* 2018Alabama* 2020Colorado* 2020Florida* 2020Ohio* 2022Louisiana* 2022Idaho* 2024Iowa* 2024Kentucky* 2024Missouri* 2024North Carolina* 2024Oklahoma* 2024South Carolina* 2024Wisconsin* 2024* Not a state. Does not have its own constitution.Congress could have stopped foreign citizen voting but failed to do so.Learn more about Citizen Only Voting atONLYCITIZENS.VOTE* Citizen Only Voting Amendment
LSC Elections Local School Council members are elected every two years by parents, community members, and school staff. Members serve two-year terms, with the exception of student representatives, who serve one-year terms. Interested candidates must complete several application forms. “US citizenship is not a requirement to vote.”
CITIZEN ONLY VOTING AMENDMENTWHY IS COVA NECESSARY?The current language of every, any,or all has proven insufcient in guaranteeing that only U.S. citizens have the legal right to vote. Just because every citizen is allowed to vote does not mean that non-citizens are not allowed to vote.WE MUST AMENDSTATE CONSTITUTIONS!Passing a statute isn’t enough! A statute may be ruled unconstitutional by the courts and a statute can be changed by any future legislature. ONLY a constitutional amendment will protect citizen-only voting.PLACES THAT ALLOWNON-CITIZEN VOTINGCaliforniaIllinoisMarylandVermontWashington, D.C.CONSTITUTIONS WRITTENCORRECTLY WHEN RATIFIEDPennsylvania 1776Virginia 1776Minnesota 1858Utah 1895Wyoming 1889STATES THAT HAVE PASSEDCOVA BY A WIDE MARGINIdaho 65% 2024Iowa 76% 2024Kentucky 62% 2024Missouri 68% 2024North Carolina 78% 2024Oklahoma 81% 2024South Carolina 86% 2024Wisconsin 70% 2024Ohio 77% 2022Louisiana 73% 2022Alabama 77% 2020Colorado 63% 2020Florida 79% 2020North Dakota 66% 2018Arizona 66% 1962ATTEMPTS TO ALLOWNON-CITIZEN VOTINGSan Jose, CASanta Ana, CAClarkston, GAArlington, MABrookline, MACambridge, MANewton, MABoston, MAPortland, MEDallas Co., TXMultnomah Co., ORIllinoisConnecticutRhode IslandNew York, NYLearn more about Citizen Only Voting atONLYCITIZENS.VOTE
Alabama ✔Arizona ✔Colorado ✔Florida ✔Idaho ✔Iowa ✔Kentucky ✔Louisiana ✔Minnesota ✔Missouri ✔North Carolina ✔North Dakota ✔Ohio ✔Oklahoma ✔Pennsylvania ✔South Carolina ✔Utah ✔Virginia ✔Wisconsin ✔Wyoming ✔Alaska ★ ▲ Connecticut ▲ Delaware ▲ ◆ Georgia ★ ▲ Hawaii ★ ▲ Indiana ▲ Kansas ★ Maine ▲ Massachusettes ▲ Michigan ★ Mississippi ▲ Montana ▲ Nebraska ◆ New Hampshire ★ ▲ New York ★ ▲ Oregon ▲ ◆ Tennessee ▲ ◆ Texas ★ West Virginia ★ Arkansas ◆ ● Nevada ● New Jersey ● New Mexico ◆ ● Rhode Island ● South Dakota ● Washington ● California ✱Illinois ✱Maryland ✱Vermont ▲ ✱✔STATES PROTECTED BY COVACHART LEGENDProtected by COVAImpediment: Voter QualicationsImpediment: Lack of Home RuleNo Clear Impediment toNon-Citizen VotingNon-Citizen Voting LegalStatute Allows Localities toEnfranchise Non-ResidentsNON-CITIZEN VOTING NOT PROHIBITED BY CONSTITUTIONNON-CITIZEN VOTING IMMINENTNON-CITIZEN VOTING LEGAL✱★ ▲ ◆ ●COVALEGISLATIVEIMPEDIMENTNON-CITIZENVOTINGStatus of Citizen Only Voting and Non-Citizen Voting in the United States✔✱★▲◆●Learn more about Citizen Only Voting at:ONLYCITIZENS.VOTE
A NATIONALMOVEMENT FORCITIZEN-ONLYVOTINGCITIZEN-ONLY VOTING AMENDMENTBRIEFING BOOK
CITIZEN ONLY VOTING AMENDMENTONLYCITIZENS.VOTEWHAT IS COVA?The Citizen Only Voting Amendment is a state constitutional amendment that makes it so only U.S. citizens are allowed to legally vote in local and state elections. Right now the constitutions of most states say “Every citizen of the United States who is age 18 and older is eligible to vote…”. COVA changes the language to “Only a citizen of the United States who is age 18 and older is eligible to vote…”. In some states the words “any” or “all” are used instead of “every” but it all means the same thing and is insufcient to guarantee that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote. The “every” language establishes a oor for eligibility. Every citizen is eligible to vote but other people may be added on top of that oor. The “only” language creates a ceiling for eligibility – only citizens may vote and nobody else.It is exclusive and absolute.Learn more about Citizen Only Voting at:ONLYCITIZENS.VOTETHE PUBLIC DISAPPROVESOF NON-CITIZEN VOTINGOPPOSE75%NOTSURE5%FAVOR20%ONLY 8% “STRONGLY FAVOR”ALLOWING NON- CITIZEN VOTING.QUESTION:Some cities are allowing non-citizens to vote. Would you favor or oppose allowing people who are not U.S. citizens to votein your local elections?AMERICANS FOR CITIZEN VOTING SURVEY OF 1000 REGISTERED VOTERSCONDUCTED BY RMG RESERCH ON MARCH 9–10, 2023
Learn more about Citizen-Only Voting at:ONLYCITIZENS.VOTEELECTION RESULTSCITIZENS-ONLY VOTING BALLOT MEASURES2018Year State YES Votes YES % NO VotesNO %North Dakota 208,499 107,75166%34%2020 Alabama 1,535,8621,985,2398,307,109314,6783,099,868572,8651,150,3321,208,9891,966,8524,184,6801,207,5201,982,8652,272,446458,4871,171,1372,169,684113,808931,205309,456341,034727,515906,8511,208,865288,267324,432950,44577%23%Colorado63%37%Florida79%21%2022 Louisiana73%27%Ohio77%23%65%35%77%23%62%38%68%32%78%22%81%19%86%14 % 71%29%2024 IdahoIowaKentuckyMissouriNorth CarolinaOklahomaSouth CarolinaWisconsin29,997,804 10,008,93775%25%TOTAL
Leaders of the Citizen Only Voting Amendment (COVA) movement will tell you that two little words make a big difference in preserving the “exclusive right of citizens” to vote. It all comes down to “every” and “only.” Voter suppression is real—and it’s happening in blue states and ultra-“progressive” cities across America. Non-citizen voting is the left’s latest social justice craze, one that’s canceling out the constitutionally guaranteed votes of tens of thousands of American citizens, including naturalized immigrants who worked hard to lawfully obtain their citizenship.“Many on the Left clearly want non-citizens to vote,” Jacob explained. “After a Citizen Only Voting Amendment passed the Texas Senate 29–1 earlier this year, Democrats blocked it in the House. Every Democrat in Georgia voted against a similar amendment in the legislature this year. And in Vermont, Democrats overrode the Republican governor’s veto to award non-citizens the vote in three cities.“Just because every citizen is eligible to vote doesn’t mean noncitizens are ineligible to vote,” Jack Tomczak, national eld director for Americans for Citizen Voting, told me in an interview last week. ACV is leading the charge to amend state constitutions to include citizen-only voting language.
Citizen Only Voting AmendmentsRecent History of Amendments on State Ballots2024 Ballot2022 Ballot2020 Ballot2018 BallotLongtimeCitizen OnlyProvision20242020201820242024202420222024202020242022202020242024.VONLYCITIZENS OTE
Americans for Citizen Voting (ACV), a grassroots organization working to block non-citizens voting in our elections, held a press conference on Sept. 4 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to highlight its new campaign to pass citizen-only voting constitutional amendments in November. Restoration News was present to cover the event.“We’re really dealing much more with and exclusively with non-citizens voting legally, and I think that’s a decision that the public really has to weigh in on and say, do we want that to be happening? And of course, if the voters decide, as they have every time, that we want only citizens, then there is an enforcement part of that there you do have to follow to make sure people follow rules,” said ACV Chairman Paul Jacob. “But we’re really at the point of setting those rules clearly.”
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