Texans have approved a constitutional amendment explicitly prohibiting non-U.S. citizens from voting in state elections, reinforcing existing laws that require U.S. citizenship for voter registration. The measure, tied to Senate Joint Resolution 37, passed with nearly 72% support in the latest election cycle. The amendment adds language to Texas’ constitution stating that “persons who are not citizens of the United States” are barred from voting in state elections.
Texas law already mandates U.S. citizenship for voter registration, while federal law prohibits non-citizens from participating in federal contests such as presidential and congressional races. Supporters argued the change ensures the restriction is permanently embedded in the state’s legal framework. Governor Greg Abbott (R) celebrated the outcome, stating, “It is now in our Constitution that only U.S. citizens can vote in Texas elections.”
The amendment follows increased scrutiny of voter eligibility in Texas, where officials removed approximately one million ineligible names from the voter database in 2024, including over 6,500 non-citizens. State authorities also referred dozens of cases of alleged non-citizen voting from the 2024 general election to the Texas Attorney General’s office for investigation.
The move aligns with broader efforts in Republican-led states like Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin to strengthen constitutional prohibitions on non-citizen voting. Texas has also implemented data-sharing programs and verification systems to maintain clean voter rolls.
