Citizens only voting measure headed to West Virginia referendum

Steven Cohen
·1 min read

FALLING WATERS, W.Va. (DC News Now) — Lawmakers in West Virginia are preparing a referendum for the November election.

It would restrict voting to West Virginia residents who are U.S. citizens only.

“You don’t have to be a U.S. citizen to join the military in this country so if you can go to war and be wounded or, worse yet, die for your country, shouldn’t you be allowed to at least vote?” Deborah Carroll, candidate for the Democratic Party nomination to a seat in the House of Delegates from Berkeley County, said.

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But incumbent Republican Delegate from a neighboring Berkeley County seat, Larry D. Kump, argued that citizenship is a privilege.

“It should not be taken lightly,” Kump said.

A special legislative session is expected to formalize a referendum on the citizenship requirement for the fall.

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