House Republicans decisively blocked a controversial D.C. law that would have allowed non-citizens to vote in local elections after just 30 days of residency, with support from 56 Democrats crossing party lines to protect citizen voting rights.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. House voted 266-148 to overturn Washington D.C.’s law allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections, with 56 Democrats joining Republicans.
- Rep. August Pfluger’s bill reasserts that voting rights should be exclusive to American citizens, preventing potential foreign influence in U.S. elections.
- This marks a significant congressional intervention in D.C. affairs after decades of restraint, exercising authority granted under the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973.
- Republicans argued the D.C. law would have diluted citizen voting power by allowing foreign nationals, including illegal immigrants and embassy personnel, to vote after just 30 days of residency.
- The House also passed companion legislation addressing D.C. police reforms, while a budget fix for the city’s $1.1 billion shortfall remains stalled.
Republican Victory for Citizen-Only Voting
The U.S. House of Representatives delivered a significant blow to progressive voting policies by overturning Washington, D.C.’s Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022. The legislation, which would have allowed non-citizens to vote in local D.C. elections after just 30 days of residency, was nullified by a vote of 266 to 148, with one present. The strong bipartisan majority included 56 Democrats who joined Republicans in affirming that voting should remain a privilege of American citizenship.
“Free and fair elections are a prerequisite for a healthy republic. The radical DC Council’s decision to allow noncitizens—including illegal aliens and foreign agents—to vote in local elections dilutes the voting power of the citizen voter,” said Rep. August Pfluger, the bill’s sponsor.
Constitutional Authority and Federal Oversight
The House action represents a rare but significant exercise of congressional authority over Washington, D.C. under the District’s Home Rule Act of 1973. While Congress had not intervened in D.C. local affairs for over 30 years until 2023, Republicans argued that the non-citizen voting law posed a unique threat to election integrity and national security. The legislation allows Congress to assert its constitutional jurisdiction over the nation’s capital, particularly when local decisions have potential implications for federal interests.
“D.C.’s City Council made radical decisions in our nation’s capital under the Biden-Harris administration, passing local laws that are woefully inconsistent with national standards or constitutional principles,” said Rep. August Pfluger.
Rep. James Comer emphasized the importance of protecting citizen voting rights, stating, “The right to vote is a defining privilege of American citizenship. Diluting that right by extending it to non-citizens — whether here legally or illegally — undermines the voice of D.C. residents.”
Broader Implications for Election Integrity
The House vote represents a significant moment in the ongoing national debate over election integrity and citizenship requirements for voting. While several municipalities in California, Vermont, and Maryland have permitted non-citizen voting in certain local elections, the D.C. law was particularly concerning to lawmakers due to the capital’s unique status and security considerations. Republicans raised alarms about the potential for foreign embassy personnel and other non-citizens to influence local governance in the nation’s capital after minimal residency requirements.
“If D.C. wants illegals to vote, we’ve made it clear at the federal level people here illegally should not vote in any elections,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, highlighting the GOP’s commitment to secure elections.
Related D.C. Legislation and Budget Issues
In addition to blocking non-citizen voting, the House passed the “Protecting Our Nation’s Capital Emergency Act,” addressing law enforcement issues in D.C. This companion bill aims to restore certain protections for the understaffed Metropolitan Police Department by reversing parts of the city’s 2022 police reform legislation. Meanwhile, D.C. officials continue to lobby Congress to address a critical $1.1 billion budget shortfall resulting from previous congressional actions, though Speaker Johnson has delayed bringing this financial fix to the floor despite bipartisan support.
“Anyone who voted against this legislation voted for the transfer of political power away from legal voters. With the House passage of my legislation today, we are one step closer to restoring the sanctity of the voting process to ensure that only American citizens are voting in our nation’s capital,” concluded Rep. Pfluger.
