CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thirteen years ago this month, the latest federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour was set by Congress.
North Carolina and South Carolina don't have state minimum wages higher than that, but some advocates are trying to change that.
THE QUESTION
Can voters in North Carolina and South Carolina change the state minimum wage through a citizen-led ballot measure?
OUR SOURCES
- North Carolina and South Carolina state codes
- National Conference of State Legislatures
- Ana Pardo with the NC Justice Center
THE ANSWER
No, voters in the Carolinas can't change the state minimum wage through a citizen-led ballot measure.
WHAT WE FOUND
Some states allow ballot measures, which is when voters get an issue on the state or local ballot through a petition process.
The NCSL found 24 states allow this. Neither North Carolina nor South Carolina are among them. Only three Southern states are: Arkansas, Florida and Mississippi.
"Currently, the (North Carolina) state legislature can put things on the ballot to change state law," Pardo said. "Normally, it's in the form of bonds, like we want to spend public dollars on XYZ park improvements or road improvements, or it's things that change the state constitution."
Florida is the most recent state to see voters vote to raise the minimum wage. In 2020, 61% said yes to $15 an hour.
In North Carolina, some lawmakers have recently fought to raise the state's minimum wage, but have been unsuccessful.
"Over the last decade or so there have been several dozen attempts to increase the state minimum wage," Pardo said. "I know in 2021 alone, there were six separate bills that would have increased the state minimum wage."
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