The North Carolina State Senate passed two constitutional amendments on Dec. 2, 2024, which voters would decide in Nov. 2026.
One amendment, SB 920, would reduce the maximum income tax rate from 7% to 5%. The other, SB 921, would require all voters to provide photo identification to vote. In North Carolina, voter ID is currently required for those voting in person but is not required for those voting by mail.
In order for constitutional amendments to pass in North Carolina, each chamber of the state legislature must first pass the amendment by a 60% supermajority vote.
At the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, Republicans retained 30 of 50 (60%) seats in the Senate. In the House, Republicans won 71 of 120 (59%) seats, a decrease from 72 (60%) before the election. Therefore, once new state representatives are sworn in on Jan. 1, Republicans can no longer pass constitutional amendments along partisan lines in the House.
For SB 920 and SB 921, both constitutional amendments were passed in the Senate along party lines. Republicans supported the amendments, and Democrats opposed them.
If the House votes on the constitutional amendments by the end of Dec., Republicans can place them on the ballot without any Democratic support before their 60% supermajority ends. Proposed constitutional amendments cannot be vetoed by the governor. For the constitutional amendments to be ratified, they need a simple majority by voters at the next general election, which will be held on Nov. 3, 2026.
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