Majority of Democrats Reject DC Bill on Non-Citizen Voting Rights

A Republican-led measure that bars noncitizens from casting ballots in Washington, D.C., elections was opposed by more than 140 Democrats on Thursday.

Notwithstanding the efforts of the House Democratic leadership to persuade its members to oppose the bill, H.R. 192 cleared the House with 52 Democrats voting alongside Republicans. Among the 143 Democrats voting against the bill were former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

Introduced by Texas Republican Representative August Pfluger, the measure was first put to a vote in February 2023 in reaction to the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 passed by the District of Columbia Council. This municipal law permitted illegal immigrants and noncitizens to cast ballots in local elections held in the capital of the country.

In 2023, the bill passed the House with 42 Democrats voting with Republicans and 162 Democrats opposing, but it was rejected by the Democratic-controlled Senate. Comparatively to the last effort at approving the package, ten more Democrats sided with Republicans on Thursday.

A whip memo that Axios was able to obtain states that the House Democratic leadership urged other Democrats to oppose the bill, citing D.C.’s “right for self-governance and statehood.”

In addition to noting that “16 other jurisdictions across the U.S. have enacted similar provisions” allowing non-citizens to vote, the letter charged House Republicans with “attempting to undermine the political self-determination” of D.C. inhabitants. Legally speaking, Congress controls Washington, D.C.

Similar legislation to bar noncitizens from voting was submitted in the House and Senate in January 2023 by Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Furthermore submitted in reaction to the D.C. ordinance was this legislation.

Thursday, more than 140 Democrats opposed a Republican-led measure that bars noncitizens from casting ballots in Washington, D.C.

Notwithstanding the efforts of the House Democratic leadership to persuade its members to oppose the bill, H.R. 192 cleared the House with 52 Democrats voting alongside Republicans. Among the 143 Democrats voting against the bill were former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

Introduced by Texas Republican Representative August Pfluger, the measure was first put to a vote in February 2023 in reaction to the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 passed by the District of Columbia Council. This municipal law permitted illegal immigrants and noncitizens to cast ballots in local elections held in the capital of the country.

In 2023, the bill passed the House with 42 Democrats voting with Republicans and 162 Democrats opposing, but it was rejected by the Democratic-controlled Senate. Comparatively to the last effort at approving the package, ten more Democrats sided with Republicans on Thursday.

A whip memo that Axios was able to obtain states that the House Democratic leadership urged other Democrats to oppose the bill, citing D.C.’s “right for self-governance and statehood.”

In addition to noting that “16 other jurisdictions across the U.S. have enacted similar provisions” allowing non-citizens to vote, the letter charged House Republicans with “attempting to undermine the political self-determination” of D.C. inhabitants. Legally speaking, Congress controls Washington, D.C.

Similar legislation to bar noncitizens from voting was submitted in the House and Senate in January 2023 by Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Also in reaction to the D.C. ordinance came this legislation.