Voters to ratify citizenship rule

Only 0.04% of voter verification cases checked by state election officials in 2025 were returned as noncitizens. Despite this low figure, West Virginia residents will decide on Nov. 3 whether to change the state constitution to explicitly mandate U.S. citizenship for voting in state elections. The measure appears on the ballot as Amendment 1. It seeks to clarify a requirement that currently exists in state law but is not detailed in the constitution.

The current constitution states that voters must be citizens of the state. The proposed amendment changes this language to require that only citizens of the United States who are citizens of the state shall be entitled to vote. Secretary of State Kris Warner and Chief Legal Counsel Dave Cook explained in a video released last week that the change does not alter current voter requirements. They stated that voters will not need to present birth certificates or other documents to prove their citizenship at the polls.

Sen. Patricia Rucker, a Republican from Jefferson County, served as the lead sponsor of Joint Resolution 9. This resolution allowed the amendment to be proposed. The House of Delegates and the state Senate both passed the proposal unanimously. Rucker, a naturalized citizen from Venezuela, said she introduced the measure after finding the specific language missing from the constitution. She argued that people should verify their status when registering to vote. She noted, “I became a citizen after waiting my turn, spending my money and doing it the right way.”

If voters approve Amendment 1, the rule becomes part of the state constitution. This makes it more difficult to change than a standard law. The legislature would need to pass a new resolution to propose repeal and place that on a future ballot. A majority vote of citizens would be required to remove the amendment. The West Virginia constitution serves as the supreme law of the state.

Judy Ball, co-president of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia, opposes the amendment. She argued that the measure promotes divisive myths and reduces trust in the electoral process. Ball, who lives in Morgantown, said the amendment tries to solve a problem that does not exist. She added, “You repeat a lie often enough, people start believing it.” She noted that noncitizens who register or vote face a deportable offense, and that voters already attest to their citizenship during registration.

National trends influence the local vote. President Donald Trump has claimed that noncitizen voting is a widespread issue. He has threatened to withhold his signature on legislation until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. This act would impose strict citizenship proof requirements on voters nationwide. The Bipartisan Policy Center stated that such document requirements could make voting harder for eligible citizens, such as married women who may lack birth certificates or passports.

Five other states have introduced similar ballot measures. The full text of Amendment 1 includes standard voting eligibility rules regarding age, residency, and criminal conviction. It also includes a provision stating that a person in military service stationed in the state is not deemed a resident for that reason alone. Voters will see the title, summary, and full text in the voting booth.