Lawmakers in the House voted in favor of legislation that would nullify a law in Washington, DC permitting noncitizens to vote in local elections. The bill, HR 192, passed with a vote of 262-143, with fifty-two Democrats joining Republicans in support. The bill is not expected to pass in the Senate or receive President Biden’s signature. Rep. August Pfluger sponsored the bill, arguing that allowing noncitizens to vote dilutes the voting power of citizens. The vote took place just days before DC’s June 4 primary election.
The Council of the District of Columbia approved the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act in 2022, allowing noncitizens who are residents of DC to vote in local elections starting in 2024. However, noncitizens are prohibited from voting in federal elections. A federal court upheld the law in March after a challenge from DC voters. Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the law, stating that only American citizens should have the right to influence American elections, calling the DC policy anti-American.
The Constitution grants Congress the power to exercise exclusive legislation over federal districts, including Washington, DC. Despite the DC Home Rule Act of 1973 giving the city council certain powers, Congress can still block local legislation. Last year, Congress overturned the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, which reduced penalties for certain felonies, breaking a 30-year streak of not blocking DC legislation. President Biden supported this decision despite initially considering a veto.
Several cities in California, Vermont, and Maryland also allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. However, Rep. Johnson criticized Congressional Democrats for allowing noncitizens, including foreign agents, to influence elections in the Nation’s Capital. Some Democrats defended their vote, arguing that at the local level, all residents have common interests such as garbage collection and public schools. Last year, the House attempted to pass similar legislation, but it did not advance due to the Democratic-controlled Senate not taking it up.
The debate over whether noncitizens should be able to vote in local elections in Washington, DC highlights broader issues of citizenship, voting rights, and federal oversight of DC. The passage of HR 192 by the House reflects concerns about the influence of noncitizens in local elections and underscores the importance of citizenship in the electoral process. Despite the passage of the bill, it is unlikely to progress further, leaving the issue of noncitizen voting rights in DC unresolved for now.
