AN ACT to amend the constitution of north carolina TO REQUIRE ALL VOTERS TO PRESENT PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION BEFORE VOTING, NOT JUST THOSE PRESENTING TO VOTE IN PERSON; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE ON INCOMES CANNOT EXCEED FIVE PERCENT.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

AMEND PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING

SECTION 2.(a)  Section 2 of Article VI of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:

Sec. 2. Qualifications of voter.

…

(4)        Photo identification for voting in person. voting. Voters offering to vote in person shall present photographic identification before voting. The General Assembly shall enact general laws governing the requirements of such photographic identification, which may include exceptions.

SECTION 2.(b)  Section 3 of Article VI of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:

Sec. 3. Registration; Voting in Person.Voting.

…

(2)        Voters offering to vote in person shall present photographic identification before voting. The General Assembly shall enact general laws governing the requirements of such photographic identification, which may include exceptions.

SECTION 2.(c)  The amendments set out in Sections 2(a) and 2(b) of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 5, 2024, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. The election shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:

[ ] FOR          [ ] AGAINST

Constitutional amendment to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.

SECTION 2.(d)  The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum conducted under Section 2(c) of this act. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendments set out in Sections 2(a) and 2(b) of this act, the Secretary of State shall enroll the amendments among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the question are against the amendments set out in Sections 2(a) and 2(b) of this act, the amendments shall have no effect.

SECTION 2.(e)  If the certification from the State Board of Elections under Section 2(d) of this act reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendments set out in Sections 2(a) and 2(b) of this act, the amendments set out in Sections 2(a) and 2(b) of this act are effective upon certification.

CAP INCOME TAX RATE TO 5%

SECTION 3.(a)  Section 2 of Article V of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:

Sec. 2. State and local taxation.

…

(6)        Income tax. The rate of tax on incomes shall not in any case exceed seven five percent, and there shall be allowed personal exemptions and deductions so that only net incomes are taxed.

….

SECTION 3.(b)  The amendment set out in Section 3(a) of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 5, 2024, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. The election shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:

[ ] FOR          [ ] AGAINST

Constitutional amendment to reduce the income tax rate in North Carolina to a maximum allowable rate of five percent (5%).

SECTION 3.(c)  The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum conducted under Section 3(b) of this act. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 3(a) of this act, the Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the question are against the amendment set out in Section 3(a) of this act, the amendment shall have no effect.

SECTION 3.(d)  If the certification from the State Board of Elections under Section 3(c) of this act reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 3(a) of this act, the amendment set out in Section 3(a) of this act is effective upon certification and shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.