In a move that has reignited the debate over local autonomy in the nation’s capital, the House of Representatives approved legislation aimed at prohibiting non-U.S. citizens from voting in Washington, D.C.’s municipal elections. The bill, which cleared the chamber by a vote of 262-143, would forbid any non-citizen residents from casting ballots for local offices or on ballot initiatives and referendums within the District of Columbia.
The measure comes in response to a law passed by the D.C. Council in 2022 that expanded the definition of a qualified voter in local elections to include eligible non-citizen residents. While federal law already bars non-citizens from participating in federal elections, the Council’s move sparked backlash from Republicans, who argue that allowing non-citizens to influence the leadership of the nation’s capital sets a dangerous precedent.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has been a vocal critic of the D.C. law, stating, “Congress will not support such lawless behavior.” However, Democrats, led by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.), have condemned the Republican-backed bill as “undemocratic” and “paternalistic,” asserting that D.C. residents, a majority of whom are black and brown, are “worthy and capable of self-government.”
The controversy surrounding non-citizen voting in D.C. is not entirely new. Earlier this year, 42 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting a resolution condemning the local statute. Furthermore, the Republican-controlled House has also advanced separate legislation aimed at reinforcing the existing federal ban on non-citizen voting in federal elections.
While a handful of cities and towns across the country do allow non-citizens to vote in local races, such votes typically represent a small fraction of the overall electorate. Nonetheless, the D.C. bill has reignited a broader debate over the extent of Congressional oversight over the District’s affairs, with Republicans arguing that the Home Rule Act grants them the authority to intervene in local matters.
As the battle over non-citizen voting in D.C. continues to unfold, it serves as a microcosm of the ongoing tensions between local autonomy and federal authority in the nation’s capital.