NC Governors: Voters Preserved Checks, Balances In 2018 Election

CHARLOTTE, NC — Four of six proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot before North Carolina voters in the 2018 election passed, including requiring voters show identification, a cap on state income tax, as well as measures aimed at expanding victims’ rights and codifying the right to hunt and fish in the state.

What didn’t pass, however, has preserved checks and balances in the state, according to former governors.

Two controversial proposals — giving the state legislature control over judicial appointments and allowing party leaders to control appointments to the Ethics & Elections board — were widely defeated. (See the unofficial results from the N.C. State Board of Elections & Ethics below)

Following the vote, former North Carolina governors issued a statement Wednesday applauding voters for rejecting the measures that would have expanded the reach of power by legislators. “In our system of government, only the voters can change the North Carolina Constitution,” said Governos James Hunt, James Martin, Michael Easley, Beverly Perdue and Patrick McCrory. “As former Governors, our role was simply to inform voters of the impact of the amendments and make certain they understood them. They considered the two appointment changes carefully and came down on the side of preserving checks and balances.”

The six ballot amendments were all put forward and endorsed by the GOP-led General Assembly. The state's Democratic party, however, encouraged voters to vote against all six proposed changes to the state constitution. It's rare for voters to encounter so many proposed changes at once, according to the News & Observer.

Return to Patch tonight for the latest vote tally on the amendments as well as the biggest races in our area. Subscribe to free News Alerts for election results. Stay up-to-date on election results by subscribing to free Patch News Alerts.Each ballot question, which are linked below, will allow voters to select "For" or "Against" on the following issues:

• Require Photographic Identification To Vote: Details about how this would be implemented are scant and the legislature would be tasked with writing the details should it pass.
• Legislature To Control Judicial Appointments: This proposed change would curtail the governor's power to fill judicial vacancies, giving it to legislators.

• Cap Maximum State Income Tax At 7 percent: This amendment would lower the current 10-percent cap, and would not alter the current personal income tax rate for voters, which is 5.499 percent, the News & Observer said.
• Party Leaders In Legislature To Control Ethics and Elections Board Appointments; Eliminate Nonpartisan Representation on Board: Much like the judicial appointment amendment, this amendment would strip the governor's ability to choose members of the elections board, while bestowing it to the legislature. This measure would also shrink the current nine-member panel down to eight (with each party filling them with four representatives) by eliminating the nonpartisan position.
• Changes To Current Victims' Rights Amendment: expands rights for victims of felony crimes.

• Right To Hunt And Fish: This amendment would protect the right to do both in the state’s constitution.

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Below is a list of the six ballot amendments in the 2018 Midterm Election in North Carolina. Results will be updated throughout the evening and any amendments approved by voters will be marked with an X.

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