October 6, 2026
What’s On Your Ballot? Proposed NC Constitutional Amendments
Hello Indivisible Citizens of Catawba Valley,
It’s another Take Action Tuesday from the ICCV Legislative Committee. It is now FOUR weeks until November 3. Early voting in North Carolina begins October 15, one week from this Thursday, and runs through October 31, 2026. We are continuing with election related information over the next few weeks.
As a reminder, be sure to check your voter registration and encourage your family and friends to do so as well. The voter registration deadline is October 9, although one stop registration and voting is available during Early Voting. https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/
This week, we are discussing the three proposed amendments to the NC Constitution that will be on our ballots. These will be at the very end of your ballot, which is one of the reasons it is SO important to vote your whole ballot.
We will discuss each amendment separately, but if you want the short version, our recommendation is to vote AGAINSTall 3 proposed amendments to the North Carolina Constitution. Constitutional amendments are MUCH harder to change than regular statutory law.
WHAT TO DO and HOW TO DO IT
1. We highly recommend that everyone vote early and in person. Curbside voting is available at all early voting sites. If you must complete an absentee ballot, hand-deliver it to either the County Board of Elections or any early voting site. If mailing your ballot, it must be received NO LATER than 7:30 PM on Election Day. We recommend mailing your ballot by October 20, 2026, and using Ballot Trax to make sure it is received in time to be counted. https://northcarolina.ballottrax.net/voter/
2. Talk to your neighbors, friends, co-workers about why these proposed amendments are harmful to communities, schools, and individuals.
3. Vote the entire ballot – state and local races affect our daily lives the most. (More on this next week.)
4. Vote AGAINST all three amendments.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
The proposed amendments are worded in short form on your ballot, and they are intentionally written to encourage voters to vote FOR the amendments. The following discussions are a brief compilation of information from the League of Women Voters of North Carolina, Carolina Federation, You Can Vote, Carolina Forward, and the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center. For a deeper dive, links to those websites are provided below.
1. Vote By Mail Photo ID:
“Constitutional amendment to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.”
The North Carolina Constitution already requires photo ID for in-person voting. North Carolina law requires individuals voting absentee-by mail to include a photocopy of their photo ID or complete a Photo ID exception form. Those arguing in favor of the amendment say that this amendment would make the requirement more permanent, treat all voters the same, regardless of voting method, and still allow for the General Assembly to create exception. Opponents argue that there is no need to place this requirement in the Constitution, since it is already state law. It further does not guarantee current exceptions will be maintained, and could create barriers for military and overseas voters, as well as those living in rural areas who may not have the ability to photocopy their ID. Military voters, for example, cannot photocopy their military IDs because it is illegal to do so.
2. Income Tax:
“Constitutional amendment to keep the State income tax rate from being raised higher than three and one-half percent (3.5%).”
The current maximum income tax rate is 7%, and the current actual rate is 3.99%. This is scheduled to fall below 3% in 2028. Supporters feel lower tax rates simplify the tax code, encourage investment, and helps NC compete with nearby states who have no income tax. Again, this sounds like a benefit to taxpayers, but this limits the ability of future legislators to respond to emergencies and provide revenue for essential services. The savings per year for low-income families would amount to less than $100 / year, but large corporations (Duke Energy, for example) and owners of multiple large businesses would reap the highest rewards. Income taxes pay for essential public health, safety, and emergency services, as well as contributing significantly to education and schools. Funding shortages could result in cutbacks to services, or increased cost to residents.
3. NC Property Tax Levy Limit:
“Constitutional amendment requiring limits on property tax increases by local governments.”
Supporters say this would provide taxpayer protection by limiting the ability of local governments to raise property taxes and limit local government spending. Opponents call this a power grab on the part of the legislature because it takes control away from local governments. In addition, the details are unclear on what the limits would be, any rules or exceptions. The text of the amendment allow lawmakers to write the details AFTER the amendment has been adopted. As with the income tax amendment, local property taxes are a primary source of revenue for essential local services. In addition, renters do not benefit from property tax cuts, but commercial real estate developers, including those who are not even in North Carolina, stand to benefit financially.
Links to more information:
https://carolinafederation.org/blog/your-guide-to-fund-the-future
https://www.youcanvote.org/resource/2026-nc-constitutional-amendments/
https://carolinaforward.org/news/vote-against-all-three-amendments/
More Things to Do:
This coming weekend is Octoberfest in Downtown Hickory. If you’re planning to attend, consider wearing your ICCV gear to make our organization more visible. Also, if you would like some of our non-partisan voter information cards to distribute, either at Octoberfest or at other venues, please reach out to Melanie katzmom@me.com We still have quite a few and they do no good in my car.
No Kings: Vote Early is coming! October 17 from 8:30 until 10:30 am, ICCV will be holding “Five Mini-Rallies with a Twist.” Groups will gather at each of the five Early Voting sites in Catawba County to encourage people to vote early and to celebrate the act of voting. More information at https://www.indivisibleccv.org/calendar/no-kings-early-voting-event
Mobilize signups are now available at https://www.indivisibleccv.org/calendar/no-kings-early-voting-event
We are also looking for one additional safety lead at the Conover Station site. If you can help, please reach out to Melanie Katz katzmom@me.com or Lynn Dorfman lynndorfman@gmail.com
There are several other events happening later that day that ICCV members may be involved with, so we planned our events early in the day to give people an opportunity to attend multiple events if they choose.
Take Action Tuesday will continue to focus on elections between now and Election Day. If there is a particular election-related issue you would like us to research and address, please e-mail us at iccvlegislation@gmail.com
This week’s quote:
“I hate paying taxes. But I love the civilization they give me.”
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
Thank you for everything you do to protect our democracy!
ICCV Legislative Committee
“With Liberty and Justice for ALL”