As Election Day approaches in Oklahoma, voters are considering a ballot measure that would restrict voting to “only” U.S. citizens, following a trend among Republicans to combat noncitizen voting, which is already rare. The proposed amendment to the state constitution has supporters arguing that it protects the original intent of the constitution, while critics believe it will only fuel misinformation about noncitizen voting. The amendment would clarify the language in the constitution to specify that only citizens of the United States who are eligible to vote can participate in elections.
Opponents of the measure, including Oklahoma Democratic Sen. Michael Brooks, believe it is an unnecessary political stunt designed to sow division and spread conspiracy theories. The amendment, they argue, is not needed as no cities or municipalities in Oklahoma currently allow noncitizens to vote. The push for the measure is seen as an attempt to further target undocumented individuals in the state for political gain.
Despite the low incidence of noncitizen voting in U.S. elections, proponents of the amendment argue that it is necessary to safeguard future elections and prevent what is happening in other states from occurring in Oklahoma. Immigration advocates, like CJ Garcia, believe the amendment is part of a larger effort to demonize immigrant communities and create divisiveness. As the state heads to the polls, the debate over the ballot measure remains contentious, with concerns about the potential impact on immigrant communities and the future of voting rights in Oklahoma.
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