North Carolina voters will decide on three proposed state constitutional amendments appearing on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. These measures, placed before voters by Republican state lawmakers, address key issues including voter photo identification requirements, caps on state income tax rates, and limits on local property tax increases. Each amendment requires a simple majority vote by North Carolinians to become law, and they will be listed on ballots after candidate races. The deadline to register to vote in North Carolina is Friday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m., with options to register online or in person.
The first referendum asks voters whether all voters should be required to present a photo ID before casting their ballot. The specific language on the ballot is: “Constitutional amendment to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.“ While state law already mandates photo identification for all voters, the constitution currently only requires it for in-person voting, not for those voting by mail. For mail-in voters unable to provide a photo ID due to reasons such as a lost or stolen identification, current provisions allow them to submit their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Research indicates that widespread mail-in voter fraud remains extremely rare. This amendment was approved for the ballot by the Republican-led General Assembly, despite objections from legislative Democrats. Voters previously approved a constitutional amendment requiring photo ID for in-person voting in 2018.
The second referendum concerns the state's income tax rate, asking voters if the North Carolina income tax rate cap should be lowered from 7% to 3.5%. The ballot question states: “Constitutional amendment to keep the State income tax rate from being raised higher than three and one-half percent (3.5%).“ Should this amendment pass, state lawmakers would be prohibited from raising individual income tax rates above 3.5% without securing additional voter approval through another constitutional referendum. North Carolina currently applies a 3.99% flat individual income tax rate to all earners, a rate that is already on a trajectory to decrease in the coming years. A similar referendum approved by voters in 2018 lowered the constitutional cap from 10% to 7%. Republican state Sen. Michael V. Lee, who sponsored the legislation, argued that the proposed cap serves to "safeguard taxpayers against future increases" and "locks in that progress." In contrast, Democratic opponents sharply criticized the measure. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein opposed the amendment, describing it as "a con, a cynical shell game and a millionaire protection cap." Gov. Stein contended that the amendment "will not put any more money in anyone’s pockets" but instead would protect the very wealthy from future increases to their income tax.
The third proposed amendment asks voters to consider requiring limits on property tax increases by local governments. The ballot language is: “Constitutional amendment requiring limits on property tax increases by local governments.“ If approved, this amendment would necessitate lawmakers to enact legislation establishing limits on property tax increases, a restriction not currently present in the state constitution. For context, Mecklenburg County's property tax rate is approximately 0.49%. This amendment was also approved by a Republican-majority legislature in April 2026. Alexandra Sirota, executive director of the nonpartisan research group NC Budget & Tax Center, commented that such limits would not adequately address "unaffordable housing costs." Instead, Sirota suggested that legislators focus on providing direct relief to households facing unaffordable property tax bills. Both of the tax-related referendums—the income tax cap and the property tax limits—would reduce revenue streams that contribute to the state budget.
In addition to these statewide amendments, 28 counties, including Mecklenburg County, will feature supplementary local referendums addressing various policy issues. For example, voters in Charlotte are being asked to approve bonds designated for investments in housing, neighborhood improvements, and transportation projects. In Union County, voters will decide on a proposal to allocate $200 million for a new jail. Voters interested in reviewing specific referendums applicable to their area can find sample ballots by checking their voter registration status on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.