Subcommittee advances ratification of voter-qualification constitutional amendment

The constitutional law subcommittee voted to favor report on Senate Bill 5-82, advancing the ratification of a constitutional amendment that would specify voter qualifications as limited to U.S. citizens 18 and older who are properly registered.

The chair said the measure completes the final legislative step after a question on the 2024 general election ballot was approved by a majority of qualified electors. The chair described the history on the record, saying the change relates to prior legislative action (referred to in the meeting as "Senate 11-26," which the chair said became Act 227) and that the question asks whether "Section 4, Article 2 of the constitution of this state relating to voter qualifications be amended so as to provide that only a citizen of The United States of this state of the age of 18 and upwards who is properly registered is entitled to vote as provided by law." The chair said that a majority of voters gave the question a favorable response and that the legislature's ratification is the final step.

Representative Wetmore, who recorded his vote in favor, said, "I'm gonna vote for this, but for the record, I find it to be very silly." Representative Mitchell also spoke briefly, noting it was Wetmore's birthday; the chair closed comments and said there were no amendments on the table.

A roll call was held and the clerk reported three affirmative votes; the transcript records the clerk's summary as a "favor report with 3 in favor." The chair said the subcommittee will carry the measure to the full judiciary committee at the next available opportunity. The subcommittee then adjourned.

The next procedural step is consideration by the full judiciary committee; no further public comment was recorded at this meeting.