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Texas Proposition 16 (2025): S.J.R. 37
Texas constitutional amendment · voted on 2025-11-04 · Result: Passed
texasconstitutional-amendment
Official ballot language
The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.
Plain summary
S.J.R. 37, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, proposes to amend Section 1, Article VI, Texas Constitution, to expressly provide that persons who are not citizens of the United States are prohibited from voting in Texas. Section 2, Article VI, of the Texas Constitution provides that a resident of the state who is a United States citizen is considered a qualified voter unless disqualified under Section 1. Section 2 implies that only a U.S. citizen is qualified to vote, but does not expressly disqualify noncitizens. The proposed amendment to Section 1 would clarify that noncitizens are ineligible to vote.
Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99, quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
What a vote does
A “For” vote
Adds this amendment to the Texas Constitution: the constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.
A “Against” vote
The Texas Constitution is not changed by this proposition; current provisions stay as they are.
Ballot language as certified (Texas Legislative Council analysis). A constitutional amendment takes effect only if a majority of voters approve it.
What does this mean? (plain words)
Official text
The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text
What This Measure Would Do
This measure would change the Texas Constitution to make it clear that only people who are citizens of the United States can vote in Texas. Currently, the constitution says that a resident of Texas who is a U.S. citizen is considered a qualified voter, but it doesn't explicitly say that non-citizens cannot vote.
What a 'For' Vote Means and What a 'Against' Vote Means
If you vote "For" this measure, it would add an amendment to the Texas Constitution that says only U.S. citizens can vote in Texas. This means that the constitution would be changed to make it clear that non-citizens are not allowed to vote.
If you vote "Against" this measure, nothing would change in the Texas Constitution. The current provisions would stay the same, which means that the question of whether non-citizens can vote is still unclear.
Words That May Be Confusing
The term "qualified voter" might be confusing because it's not explicitly defined in the text. However, according to Section 2 of Article VI of the Texas Constitution, a qualified voter is someone who is a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen, unless they are disqualified under Section 1.
Written by a computer model (llama3.1:8b, run on our own server) on Tue Nov 3 from the official text and nonpartisan summary only. It is not a source and takes no side. If it differs from the official text, the official text is right.
The strongest published arguments
Arguments for (supporters)
The Texas Constitution's express list of persons not qualified to vote includes people under age 18, those who are determined mentally incompetent, and certain persons convicted of felonies, but it does not list noncitizens, which could suggest that citizenship is not a priority qualification to vote in Texas.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
The proposed amendment does not expand state authority, as the Election Code already requires a voter to be a citizen of the United States. Codifying this voting requirement in the Texas Constitution would serve to improve voter confidence, eliminate confusion, and provide clear guidance for enforcement.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
The right to vote is a sacred liberty that servicemen and servicewomen, minority communities, and naturalized immigrants have worked hard to secure and demands a high standard for its security. The proposed amendment would provide important additional protection of this right.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
As some cities in other states have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections, this measure safeguards Texas against this trend.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
Other states, varying in political ideology, geography, and demographics, have adopted constitutional amendments to prohibit noncitizens from voting.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
Arguments against (opponents)
The proposed amendment is unnecessary because state and federal laws already limit the right to vote to American citizens. Improper voting by noncitizens is rare, and passing a redundant constitutional amendment could confuse voters who might be led to believe that noncitizen voting is a bigger problem than it is.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
The amendment could lead to uncertainty among certain voters, especially those in historically marginalized communities, about their voting status and could inhibit some eligible people's participation in the democratic process.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
Consideration of this measure could potentially contribute to anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
Passing an unnecessary constitutional amendment sets a precedent for nonessential expansion of state authority through constitutional amendments, which should be reserved for limited, necessary uses. Amending the Texas Constitution is not appropriate for taking a symbolic stand or responding to trends.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
Summary of comments made in committee, floor debate, or the House Research Organization analysis, as published by the Texas Legislative Council. Shown in the order published, not ranked by us.
Alternatives
Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.
Result
| For | 2,132,473 |
|---|---|
| Against | 831,308 |
| Percent for | 71.95% |
Source: Texas Secretary of State results as reported by Texas Policy Research (confirm at the SOS results site) · official canvass: Texas SOS results
Officials and money
Authors: Birdwell · Coauthors: Middleton · Sponsors in the other chamber: Noble, Cortez, Shaheen, Hunter, Muñoz
Texas legislators are not yet linked to official pages. Bill history and votes on Texas Legislature Online.
Money: Legislative Budget Board fiscal note No linked contracts or vendors yet.
Words on this page, explained (6)
- Appropriation
- Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
- Constitutional amendment
- A change to a constitution. In Texas the Legislature proposes an amendment with a joint resolution passed by two-thirds of the members of each chamber. It takes effect only if a majority of the people voting on it approve it. In Florida, an amendment needs at least 60% of the votes cast on it to pass.
- Joint resolution
- In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
- Legislature
- The elected body that makes laws. In Texas it has a House of Representatives (150 members) and a Senate (31 members). In Florida it has a House of Representatives (120 members) and a Senate (40 members).
- Proposition
- The name for a measure on a Texas ballot, numbered Proposition 1, 2, and so on. A "For" vote supports the measure; an "Against" vote opposes it.
- Securities
- Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99
- Texas Legislature Online: S.J.R. 37
- Data: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 99 <https://www.tlc.texas.gov/docs/amendments/analyses25.pdf>; Texas Legislature Online bill history <https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SJR37>; fetched 2026-11-03T04:00:01Z
- Ballotpedia (link only)
Record st-tx-2025-prop-16 · catalog st-tx-sos-ballot-measures-2025 · updated 2026-11-02 by builder v002