During the May 8 primary, voters in North Carolina are casting their ballots for several candidates, but one controversial issue is expected to drive more people to the polls: The Constitutional Amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in the state.
A state statute already says this.
The issue is also getting a lot of national attention. Former president Bill Clinton is lending his political clout to defeat the amendment, saying the proposal would hurt North Carolina’s economy and image.
Meanwhile, The Rev. Billy Graham, who lives near Asheville, took out full page ads in newspapers across the state this weekend to urge a "yes" vote on the ballot measure.
Triad residents are speaking out on both sides of the issue.
“I’m Don McGee from King North Carolina and I will vote for the marriage amendment because I still believe marriage is biblical and it is still between one man and one woman,” said Don McGee from Stokes County, North Carolina.
“I’m a mom of two teenagers and they are at the point where they have not made the decisions on their life and I just feel that this is something that we should make a decision to impact our children, or grandchildren, their future in a negative way,” said Michelle Upchurch from Greensboro, North Carolina.
“The amendment is probably needed because of the fact that they are probably seeing what’s in place right now isn’t solid enough to withstand a legal test in the future and if we are going to maintain what the vast majority of the community traditionally sees as marriage and what they want their tax dollars to support, they are want to make sure the amendment is in place,” said Steve Gilreath from Stokes County, North Carolina.
“ I’m opposed to Amendment 1, basically because I don’t think we ought to be telling other people what to do,” said Bruce Holstrum from King, North Carolina.
A new Public Policy Polling survey shows a majority of North Carolina voters, or 55 percent support the constitutional amendment, while 39 percent oppose the measure.
NC Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Tune in to 88.5 WFDD to hear election updates during All Things Considered and during our special election coverage beginning at 7 p.m.
