RALEIGH, N.C. — A constitutional amendment stating that only citizens can vote may be on the ballot in North Carolina in November as advocates for stricter rules in state elections lobby Republican lawmakers.

Sen. Brad Overcash, a Gaston County Republican, told The News & Observer on Tuesday he would sponsor the effort to amend the state constitution, saying it would give voters an opportunity to make it “crystal clear” that only citizens can vote.

It is already a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and state law requires residents to be citizens to register to vote.

Advocates say the amendment would clear up ambiguity in the constitution, but critics — and even a group pushing for the change — see it as a way to drive conservatives to the polls.

Who is pushing for more election changes?

The amendment is one of several measures being pushed for by a group of advocates who describe their mission as election integrity. The group has ties to Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who assisted former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

In audio obtained by The News & Observer of meetings of the North Carolina Election Integrity Team, leaders of the group laid out their legislative priorities for the upcoming session, including reducing the early voting period, tightening voter ID rules and attempting to entirely eliminate same-day registration.

Republicans already passed sweeping election changes last year, including eliminating the three-day grace period for receiving absentee ballots, empowering partisan poll observers and attempting to restructure state and local election boards.

These bills were introduced last summer after top lawmakers met with Mitchell to discuss her push for stricter election laws.

Most of these changes are currently being battled out in court, with some on hold after trial courts struck them down.

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