House advances bill that would nullify DC law permitting noncitizens to vote in local elections
Lawmakers in the House voted 262-143 to green-light legislation that would nullify a law in Washington, DC which permitted noncitizens to vote in local elections.
Fifty-two Democrats joined a solid block of Republicans in passing HR 192, which is not expected to be taken up in the Senate let alone get President Biden’s signature.
“Allowing noncitizens—including illegal aliens and foreign agents—to vote in elections dilutes the voting power of the citizen voter,” said Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), who sponsored the bill.
The vote came days ahead of DC’s June 4 primary.
The Council of the District of Columbia approved the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act in 2022, which paved the way for noncitizens who are residents of the nation’s capital to vote in local elections starting in 2024.
That law only applies to local contests and noncitizens are strictly prohibited from voting in federal elections.
In March, a federal court upheld the law after a challenge from several DC voters.
“Under no circumstance should anyone other than American citizens decide any American elections,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement Thursday.
“The radical policy from the DC city council to allow noncitizens to decide local elections is anti-American and dilutes the constitutional rights of DC residents.”
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution grants Congress the power “to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever” over federal districts.
Under the DC Home Rule Act of 1973, the city council enjoys certain powers — but Congress retains the ability to block local legislation.
Congress went over 30 years without blocking DC legislation but broke the streak last year when it overturned the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, which weakened criminal penalties for some felonies — including armed robbery.
In that case, Biden was onboard, despite initially hinting at a veto.
DC is far from the only municipality that permits noncitizens to vote in local elections — several cities in California, Vermont, and Maryland do so as well.
“Instead, 143 Congressional Democrats voted today to allow Russian spies, Chinese diplomats, and illegal aliens to influence elections in the Nation’s Capital. It is shameful,” Johnson added.
Several Democrats publicly defended their vote against the measure.
“At the local level, everybody has the same basic interest in efficient garbage collection, excellent public schools, and so on,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).
Last year, the House advanced similar legislation to forestall DC’s efforts to allow noncitizens to participate in its local elections.
But the legislation went nowhere because the Democratic-controlled Senate declined to take it up.
