A proposal to amend the Georgia Constitution so that it explicitly bans noncitizens from voting failed to pass the state Senate on Monday, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to advance.
State law already limits voting to U.S. citizens, but a constitutional amendment would have prevented the Georgia General Assembly from someday passing a bill permitting noncitizens to participate in elections. New York City recently allowed its 800,000 noncitizens to vote in local elections.
The Republican election-year proposal would have ensured that the right to vote continues to be restricted to citizens, while Democrats said the idea was designed to motivate conservative voters.
