H.R.884 - To prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022. (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 884 aims to prohibit non-citizens from voting in District of Columbia elections and repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022. The bill seeks to ensure that only United States citizens can participate in elections within the District of Columbia. It directly targets a specific D.C. law that previously allowed non-citizen residents to vote.
If enacted, this bill would reverse the expansion of voting rights in D.C. to non-citizens. It would restore the previous requirement that only U.S. citizens can vote in D.C. elections.
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of H.R. 884 would be to invalidate the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 in the District of Columbia. This would mean non-citizens residing in D.C. would no longer be able to vote in local elections.
This change could impact local political dynamics in D.C., potentially shifting the focus of campaigns and policy debates. It could also affect voter turnout in local elections.
Furthermore, the bill could set a precedent for other jurisdictions considering similar voting rights expansions.
Potential Benefits
- Upholding Citizen Voting Rights: Reinforces the principle that voting is a right reserved for citizens.
- Preventing Foreign Influence: Reduces potential for foreign influence in local elections.
- National Consistency: Aligns D.C. voting laws more closely with federal elections and most state elections.
- Election Integrity: Some argue it enhances election integrity by limiting the electorate to citizens.
- Clarifying Voter Eligibility: Provides clear and consistent rules regarding who is eligible to vote.
Potential Disadvantages
- Disenfranchisement: Disenfranchises non-citizen residents who contribute to the community and pay taxes.
- Reduced Voter Turnout: May lead to lower voter turnout in local elections.
- Local Autonomy: Undermines the District of Columbia's right to self-governance and determine its own election laws.
- Community Representation: Limits the representation of non-citizen residents in local government.
- Symbolic Impact: Could be seen as unwelcoming to immigrants and non-citizens residing in the District.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality is debatable. While the Constitution doesn't explicitly define who can vote in local elections, Article I, Section 2, Clause 1, states that the House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen...by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature."
This has traditionally been interpreted to mean that states (and by extension, D.C.) have some latitude in setting voter qualifications, but this power is not unlimited. The Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause could also be invoked, arguing that denying non-citizens the right to vote is discriminatory.
However, proponents may argue that the federal government has a legitimate interest in ensuring that only citizens participate in elections, especially given the potential implications for national sovereignty and security.
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).