Cenk Uygur, a naturalized citizen, has announced he is running for president. Under article II, section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, “​​[n]o Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President.” Since Uygur is not a natural born citizen, he is not eligible for president.

Uygur argues that the Fifth Amendment, which provides in relevant part that the government may not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, implicitly repeals the natural born citizenship requirement. However, the Fifth Amendment does not address citizenship, let alone qualifications for the presidency, and this exact argument (or a version of it citing the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause) has been rejected in multiple federal courts, including in a decision written by then-Judge (now U.S. Supreme Court Justice) Neil Gorsuch. 

The natural born citizenship requirement may seem archaic, or to have outlived its usefulness. And naturalized citizens, unlike native-born insurrectionists, do not pose an inherent danger to the republic. However, unless and until it is repealed, the natural born citizenship requirement remains part of the Constitution and cannot be ignored. 

Because Uygur is not a natural born citizen, he cannot serve as president. Therefore, secretaries of state or other election authorities should follow this constitutional mandate and not list him on presidential ballots.