North Carolina voters head to the polls today in order to weigh a proposed amendment to the state constitution defining marriage between one man and one woman as the only recognized domestic legal union. The state’s Episcopal Church leaders have been visible opponents to the measure, as were California’s Episcopal Church bishops during the Proposition 8 campaign that ended a brief window of same-sex marriages in that state.
North Carolina already has a statute banning same-sex marriage. A vote in favor of the amendment on May 8 would codify the law into the state’s constitution, making it less likely to be overturned by legislative action or the courts. The amendment was referred to the statewide ballot by the North Carolina House, which voted 75-42 in favor and the State Senate that followed with 30-16 approval in September.
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