Majority of House Democrats vote in favor of non-citizens voting in DC elections
The House of Representatives recently passed a bill led by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, to prohibit non-U.S. citizens from voting in elections in Washington, D.C. The bill passed with a vote of 266 to 148, with 56 Democrats joining Republicans in favor of the measure. One Democrat voted “present,” while 148 voted against the bill.
Rep. Pfluger expressed his belief in not having federal overreach but emphasized that Congress has jurisdiction over Washington, D.C. He stated that the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act, passed by D.C.’s progressive city council in 2022, granting non-U.S. citizens the ability to vote in local elections, was an example of going too far.
The bill has been a target of GOP attacks, with concerns raised about the possibility of hostile foreign agents participating in D.C. elections. However, progressive Democrats like Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., have dismissed these concerns as implausible. Frost argued that it was unlikely for foreign officials to vote in D.C. elections as they would have to renounce their right to vote in their home country.
Despite the opposition, Rep. Pfluger was optimistic about receiving some Democratic support for the bill, noting that 52 Democrats had voted for the bill in the previous Congress. He highlighted the potential impact of allowing foreign agents to vote in D.C. elections, emphasizing that it goes against the fabric of society.
In addition to the voting rights bill, another piece of legislation granting D.C. police the ability to negotiate punishments via collective bargaining and installing a statute of limitations against the Metropolitan Police Department was also up for a vote. This bill was introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y.
Overall, the debate surrounding non-citizen voting in D.C. elections continues to be contentious, with differing opinions on the implications and potential risks involved. The outcome of these bills will have far-reaching consequences for the democratic process in the nation’s capital.
