It’s been more than 50 years since North Carolina used a racist, Jim Crow-era “literacy test” that was designed to prevent Black people from registering to vote. But that requirement remains in the state’s constitution, unenforced.

Rep. Terry Brown, D-Mecklenburg, is making another attempt this year to get the language removed. He’ll have to persuade both the House and Senate to put the repeal on the November 2026 ballot. Brown spoke with WUNC's Colin Campbell about the proposal. He also talked about his new role as chief Democratic whip, a difficult role for House Democrats as they seek to sustain Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes this year with narrow margins.