Proposition 16 - SJR 37 - Citizenship Voting
BALLOT LANGUAGE
WHAT IT MEANS
Yes
No
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST
Yes
"This amendment would explicitly state in the Texas Constitution that only U.S. citizens may vote in Texas elections. While current law already limits voting to citizens, this measure codifies that restriction in the Constitution to prevent future legal or policy changes allowing non-citizen voting.
Proposition 16 affirms individual liberty and limited government by clearly tying voting rights to citizenship and civic responsibility. It acts as a constitutional safeguard with minimal fiscal impact, reinforcing electoral integrity and state sovereignty.” - Texas Policy Research
“SJR 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that only United States citizens can vote in any election held in Texas. While current law requires voter citizenship, this amendment would prevent future local policies from expanding voting rights to non-citizens. It also safeguards taxpayer-funded governance by ensuring that only those fully vested in the nation’s interests—its citizens—can shape public policy. Enshrining this principle in the Constitution provides long-term security and reduces the risk of politically motivated changes in election law.” - Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
“We commend the Texas Legislature for taking bold, commonsense action by passing SJR 37. Texans overwhelmingly support the idea that only U.S. citizens should vote in our elections. Enshrining that principle in the state constitution is essential to protecting the integrity of our democratic process. We look forward to Texans making their voices heard this November.” - Charlie Kolean, Texas State Director, Americans for Citizen Voting
No
“We oppose this amendment because it is already explicitly stated in Texas Election code 11.002(2) that a person must be a U.S. citizen in order to be a registered voter in Texas. This amendment is a superfluous dog whistle that will further clutter our already cluttered State Constitution.” - Libertarian Party of Texas
“Voting in Texas is already limited to US citizens. This amendment does nothing new. It just bakes xenophobic messaging into the Constitution. It’s about stoking fear of immigrants, not about election integrity. Redundant, dangerous, and designed to scapegoat.” - Lone Star Left
“Laws are meant to address real problems. But when states enact proof-of-citizenship policies in response to extraordinarily rare cases of noncitizen voting, they convey a misleading message that this is a widespread issue. Such policies fuel public fear and misunderstanding and open the door for discrimination and profiling - particularly against naturalized citizens. These laws divert resources away from real community needs. They waste time and money addressing a non-issue rather than strengthening civic participation.” - Victoria Francis, Deputy Director of State and Local Initiatives, American Immigration Council
FINANCIAL BACKING
The following information provides insight into the money being spent to pass or defeat the ballot measure.
Yes
TEXAS PROPOSITION 16, CITIZENSHIP VOTING REQUIREMENT AMENDMENT (2025)
The question is on the ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 4, 2025. As of October 9, 2025, no committee to support or oppose the amendment has been identified. Thus, there is no record of funds raised to support either position.
No
TEXAS PROPOSITION 16, CITIZENSHIP VOTING REQUIREMENT AMENDMENT (2025)
The question is on the ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 4, 2025. As of October 9, 2025, no committee to support or oppose the amendment has been identified. Thus, there is no record of funds raised to support either position.
OTHER INFORMATION
Yes
The Non-Citizen Voting Problem, and How to Solve It, Foundation for Government Accountability
The Threat of Non-Citizen Voting, The Heritage Foundation
No
Bill Analysis, Senate Research Center
Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments, Texas Legislative Council
2025 Guide to the Constitutional Amendments, Texas Public Policy Foundation
