Texas Voters Approve Amendment Clarifying Only U.S. Citizens Can Vote

Texans have overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment clarifying that non-U.S. citizens are ineligible to vote in the state.

Unofficial results indicate the measure passed with nearly 72% of the vote, affirming language that will explicitly add “persons who are not citizens of the United States” to the state constitution’s list of individuals barred from voting.

The amendment, linked to SJR 37, formalizes what is already outlined in Texas’ election code: only U.S. citizens may register to vote. Federal law also prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections, including presidential and congressional contests.

Governor Greg Abbott (R) celebrated the passage on social media, posting on X: “It is now in our Constitution that only US citizens can vote in Texas elections.”

Abbott also commented on recent national politics, referencing Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral race. “Join me for a moment of silence for NYC. Thoughts & prayers,” he wrote, adding a praying hands emoji.