Article VI - Suffrage And Eligibility To Office
N.C. Const. (1971)
Section 1
Only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and possessing the qualifications set out in this Article, shall be entitled to vote at any election by the people of the State, except as herein otherwise provided.
Section 2
Not shown — two texts, and a vote on 3 November 2026
N.C. Const. art. VI, § 2(4) and N.C. Const. art. VI, § 3 each have two texts: the one in force now, and the one on the ballot on 3 November 2026 under S.L. 2024-58. The legislature prints them one after the other, and our copy has them run together, so it cannot show you which sentence is the law. We show neither rather than risk showing the wrong one.
On the ballot: Constitutional amendment to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.
Only if the State Board of Elections certifies that a majority voted for it; if a majority votes against, the amendment has no effect.
Read both texts, marked, where the legislature publishes them: ncleg.gov/Laws/Constitution/Article6. The act: SL2024-58.
Section 3
Not shown — two texts, and a vote on 3 November 2026
N.C. Const. art. VI, § 2(4) and N.C. Const. art. VI, § 3 each have two texts: the one in force now, and the one on the ballot on 3 November 2026 under S.L. 2024-58. The legislature prints them one after the other, and our copy has them run together, so it cannot show you which sentence is the law. We show neither rather than risk showing the wrong one.
On the ballot: Constitutional amendment to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.
Only if the State Board of Elections certifies that a majority voted for it; if a majority votes against, the amendment has no effect.
Read both texts, marked, where the legislature publishes them: ncleg.gov/Laws/Constitution/Article6. The act: SL2024-58.
Section 3
Not shown — two texts, and a vote on 3 November 2026
N.C. Const. art. VI, § 2(4) and N.C. Const. art. VI, § 3 each have two texts: the one in force now, and the one on the ballot on 3 November 2026 under S.L. 2024-58. The legislature prints them one after the other, and our copy has them run together, so it cannot show you which sentence is the law. We show neither rather than risk showing the wrong one.
On the ballot: Constitutional amendment to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.
Only if the State Board of Elections certifies that a majority voted for it; if a majority votes against, the amendment has no effect.
Read both texts, marked, where the legislature publishes them: ncleg.gov/Laws/Constitution/Article6. The act: SL2024-58.
Section 4
Every person presenting himself for registration shall be able to read and write any section of the Constitution in the English language.
Section 5
All elections by the people shall be by ballot, and all elections by the General Assembly shall be viva voce. A contested election for any office established by Article III of this Constitution shall be determined by joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly in the manner prescribed by law.
Section 6
Every qualified voter in North Carolina who is 21 years of age, except as in this Constitution disqualified, shall be eligible for election by the people to office.
Section 7
Before entering upon the duties of an office, a person elected or appointed to the office shall take and subscribe the following oath: "I, _______________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States, and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina not inconsistent therewith, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office as _______________, so help me God."
Section 8
The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God. Second, with respect to any office that is filled by election by the people, any person who is not qualified to vote in an election for that office. Third, any person who has been adjudged guilty of treason or any other felony against this State or the United States, or any person who has been adjudged guilty of a felony in another state that also would be a felony if it had been committed in this State, or any person who has been adjudged guilty of corruption or malpractice in any office, or any person who has been removed by impeachment from any office, and who has not been restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law.
Section 9
(1) Prohibitions. It is salutary that the responsibilities of self-government be widely shared among the citizens of the State and that the potential abuse of authority inherent in the holding of multiple offices by an individual be avoided. Therefore, no person who holds any office or place of trust or profit under the United States or any department thereof, or under any other state or government, shall be eligible to hold any office in this State that is filled by election by the people. No person shall hold concurrently any two offices in this State that are filled by election of the people. No person shall hold concurrently any two or more appointive offices or places of trust or profit, or any combination of elective and appointive offices or places of trust or profit, except as the General Assembly shall provide by general law. (2) Exceptions. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit any officer of the military forces of the State or of the United States not on active duty for an extensive period of time, any notary public, or any delegate to a Convention of the People from holding concurrently another office or place of trust or profit under this State or the United States or any department thereof.
Section 10
In the absence of any contrary provision, all officers in this State, whether appointed or elected, shall hold their positions until other appointments are made or, if the offices are elective, until their successors are chosen and qualified.