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.
Summary
This bill, introduced in the Senate, aims to prohibit non-citizens from voting in District of Columbia elections. It also seeks to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, which allowed non-citizen residents to vote in local D.C. elections. The bill effectively restores the previous legal framework where only U.S. citizens can vote in D.C.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would prevent non-citizens residing in Washington, D.C. from voting in local elections. The repeal of the 2022 Act would reinstate the requirement of U.S. citizenship for voting in the District. This change would impact the voting rights of non-citizen residents who were previously enfranchised by the repealed Act.
Potential Benefits
- Reinforces the concept of U.S. citizenship as a requirement for voting in federal and local elections.
- Addresses concerns about potential dilution of the votes of U.S. citizens.
- Aligns D.C.'s voting laws with the majority of states that require citizenship for voting.
- May reduce potential legal challenges related to non-citizen voting.
- Could strengthen the perceived integrity of the electoral process.
Potential Disadvantages
- Disenfranchises non-citizen residents of D.C. who were previously eligible to vote in local elections.
- May disproportionately affect specific demographic groups within the D.C. population.
- Could be viewed as a setback for local self-governance in D.C.
- May spark debate about the rights and representation of non-citizens in the U.S.
- Could negatively impact voter turnout in local D.C. elections.
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 specifies that electors for the House of Representatives must meet the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. The 14th Amendment addresses citizenship, but its application to local voting rights is subject to interpretation. The Supreme Court has generally upheld state laws restricting voting to citizens, but the District of Columbia's unique status as a federal district complicates the issue.
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).