H.R.882 - No Foreign Persons Administering Our Elections Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.882, the "No Foreign Persons Administering Our Elections Act," aims to prohibit the hiring of non-citizens to administer federal elections at the state and local levels. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 31, 2025, and referred to the Committee on House Administration. The bill specifies that it applies to any federal election held on or after the date of the Act's enactment.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would restrict the pool of eligible election administrators to U.S. citizens. This could potentially impact states and localities that currently employ non-citizens in these roles. The primary change would be a legal requirement to ensure that only U.S. citizens are hired for election administration positions.
Potential Benefits
- Increased Confidence in Elections: May increase public trust in the integrity of elections by ensuring that only citizens administer them.
- Alignment with Civic Duty: Reinforces the idea that administering elections is a fundamental civic duty reserved for citizens.
- Potential for More Citizen Involvement: Could encourage greater participation of citizens in election administration.
- Addresses Perceived Vulnerabilities: Aims to address concerns about foreign influence in U.S. elections.
- Upholds National Sovereignty: Reinforces the principle that elections are a core function of national sovereignty.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Limited Talent Pool: Restricting the pool of eligible administrators to citizens may limit access to qualified individuals, especially in areas with large non-citizen populations.
- Potential for Staffing Shortages: Some jurisdictions may face difficulties in recruiting and hiring enough qualified citizen election administrators.
- Increased Administrative Burden: States and localities may need to implement new procedures to verify citizenship status of election workers.
- Possible Discrimination Concerns: Could be perceived as discriminatory against non-citizens who are otherwise qualified to administer elections.
- Unnecessary Restriction: If there is no widespread issue of non-citizens administering elections improperly, the law may be an unnecessary restriction.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's emphasis on citizen participation in governance. While the Constitution does not explicitly address who can administer elections, Article I, Section 2 specifies that members of the House of Representatives are chosen "by the People of the several States," implying a connection between citizenship and the electoral process. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, but Congress has the power to regulate federal elections.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).