A strong system of public schools is foundational to the well-being of our communities and our state overall, and these tax amendments are a direct threat to that well-being. North Carolina currently ranks at the bottom nationally in spending for public schools. We see the impacts in classrooms across the state every day, as many schools struggle to recruit and retain excellent educators, school buildings are in dire need of repair, and teachers are paying thousands of dollars out of pocket for basic classroom supplies. Our children deserve better, and we can make the choice now to do better for them – but the amendments would constrain our ability to meet their needs now and in the future. We stand beside our students, educators, and communities and encourage you to join us in voting against.

“North Carolina families are working to transform our public schools into places where every child has what they need to thrive. These amendments could make that work harder. The tax proposals would limit the state’s and local communities’ ability to raise revenue for schools, while the photo ID proposal would add another barrier to participation in decisions that shape our children’s futures. Families have fought too hard for both fully-funded schools and a voice in our democracy. No matter what happens in November, we will keep organizing alongside parents, students, and educators for the schools our communities deserve.”

“People want taxes to be both low and fair. These amendments give us neither. While they deceptively promise low taxes, most people will just see the amount that they spend at the grocery store and gas pump go up through the sales tax. Both state and local governments will have to increase fees on everything from car registrations to school costs. Meanwhile, those who can most afford higher taxes will never pay what they truly owe, while working families and people with low or fixed incomes are hit hardest by every new fee and nickel-and-dime charge.” 

While North Carolinians raise their concerns about skyrocketing energy bills and data centers, lawmakers in Raleigh aren’t just ignoring them, they’re pushing huge tax breaks to wealthy corporations like Duke Energy and data center developers — with working class North Carolinians paying for it. The true beneficiaries of these tax amendments are ultra-wealthy corporations and the politicians who receive campaign funding from these corporations.

“A constitution belongs to the people, and the people deserve to know what's being written into it. These three amendments would shape our schools, our services, and our access to the ballot for years to come. Since June, we’ve been working from our cities to our rural counties to make sure every North Carolinian understands what they're being asked to lock into our Constitution. Whether they vote by mail, during early voting, or on Election Day, we want them informed, ready, and voting no on all three.”

If you care about reproductive health and reproductive freedom, we strongly urge you to vote AGAINST all three constitutional amendments. Putting more barriers in place on voting, especially on mail-in ballots, negatively impacts our ability to fight for our reproductive rights. Cutting the capacity of State and local governments to raise necessary revenue would negatively impact our ability to pay for and access comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion care, and would impede our right to access publicly supported programs for ourselves and our families. …

Raleigh politicians want to write tax breaks for billionaires and corporations into our constitution, and make our kids pay for it. These amendments would drain billions from our schools and gut the county budgets that keep counselors, bus drivers, and classrooms running. Our public schools sit 50th in the nation in funding effort. We cannot afford these dangerous amendments.

As you prepare to vote in the midterm elections in North Carolina, you might wonder why we need the three constitutional amendments listed under “Referenda” at the end of your ballot.

The short answer: We don’t. And we advise you to vote "AGAINST" them.

The League of Women Voters of North Carolina opposes all three amendments because they place policy decisions into the Constitution that are better addressed through legislation, where elected offi cials can respond to changing needs and voters can hold them accountable. The League believes constitutional amendments should strengthen—not limit—the ability of the government to serve the public and protect the rights of every eligible voter.

Elections are safest when ALL voters have ready and free access to the ballot. Expanding the Voter ID law in our Constitution does nothing to protect our elections and only harms North Carolinians. Voter ID is already the law in North Carolina, and this amendment could create additional barriers to voters, particularly around absentee voting for those living overseas and serving in the military. This unnecessary amendment would also double down on the deeply troubling voting disparities in our state – this would make it harder for Black, brown and poorer North Carolinians to vote.

“Most North Carolinians are working harder than ever to pay for food, homes, and doctor visits. Instead of helping us, certain Raleigh politicians put three constitutional amendments on the ballot that won’t lower bills, but would hand billions in tax cuts to the wealthy and giant corporations like AI data centers and Duke Energy. North Carolinians will pay the price within less freedom and higher costs for groceries, gas, and electricity. In NC, we decide. When we vote against all three amendments and demand that lawmakers make corporations and the wealthy pay what they owe, we can win real relief for all NC families.”

“If passed, the constitutional amendments on this year's ballot would devastate funding for public schools, healthcare, and vital services North Carolinians depend on. We Are Down Home NC sees these amendments for what they are: deceptive ballot measures hiding yet another giveaway to the ultra wealthy and corporations like Duke Energy. We can't let that happen to rural NC. We are committed to working side by side with our partners in NC By the People to ensure voters understand the harmful impacts of these amendments and the need to vote against all three.”

The NAACP NC State Conference opposes all three constitutional amendments on the ballot because of the impact they will have on our communities. The voter ID amendment would drastically affect our mail-in voters, especially those in college and on active duty. We should not make it harder for people to exercise one of their most fundamental rights. How can we ask our service members to put their lives on the line to defend our country, then turn around and create unnecessary obstacles that make it more difficult for them to have a voice in this country?

There are 3 statewide amendments up for a vote this year and they all could have a huge impact on education.

• The Property Tax Levy Limit Amendment could put a cap on how much property taxes can increase.  This has the potential to substantially limit the amount of money counties have available to spend on education and teacher pay.

• The Reduce Income Tax Rate Cap from 7% to 3.5% Amendment could drastically reduce the state's income which means less money for public schools.

• The Require Voter Identification Amendment adds a requirement that all voters, not just those voting in person, would need to provide a photo ID to vote, making it more difficult for qualified voters to submit a ballot.

Why are YOU voting AGAINST the scam ballot amendments this fall?

Maybe, like Diana, because you know they harm our kids. The amendments could mean less money for the public schools and libraries our kids depend on.

Maybe, like Grant, because you want to protect local services like water, garbage pickup, and roads.

Maybe, like Will, because you believe strong public schools matter, and you want every child in NC to get a great education in public school.

Whatever your WHY, we want to hear it.

WE NEED TO FUND OUR FUTURE.

“This debate about property taxes is starting to look less like a tax policy discussion, and more like a debate about the role of government. It signals a shift away from local decision making towards Raleigh decision making. North Carolina didn’t become one of the best places to live and do business by accident. We built that under the current system.” - Kevin Leonard, executive director of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners

We are against the tax amendments because we want to protect the people social workers serve from the hardship of service cuts and higher fees and other taxes. When people are struggling, they need social workers, teachers, firefighters, roads, clean drinking water, libraries, parks, and emergency response to be readily available vs. being eliminated. Quality public schools, affordable childcare, workforce development programs, well-maintained infrastructure, and a healthy environment are crucial to supporting business growth and a thriving economy in North Carolina.

The Constitutional amendments on the ballot this fall are a scam meant to make voters think they are voting for a tax break when what they are really voting for is fewer and worse public goods and less ability of their local government to respond to the community's needs. At GCAE, we know that local taxes are the best taxes because we live and work with our local elected officials and have a lot of power to let them know exactly what we need from local funds. Taking power away from local governments and consolidating it at the state level is ONLY good for the people at the very top of the power structure -- not everyday working people, not our schools, and not our students.

Clean Water for North Carolina is against these tax amendments because data centers and other dirty development would likely accelerate, as local governments approve projects over the objections of residents, in a quest to replace the lost tax revenue. Local governments would also be forced to raise the cost of living through increased sales taxes, fines, and fees. Duke Energy and Chemours are two corporations that would benefit hugely from these amendments, all while electricity and water bills skyrocket due to their business practices. Protect our water, protect your wallet, vote against tax cuts for corporations like Duke Energy & Chemours.

“North Carolina can’t afford to gamble with the services and investments that keep our communities strong. The constitutional amendments on the ballot in November would put our state’s fiscal future at risk while prioritizing tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy, and that’s why Carolina Forward is urging voters to vote NO.”