WASHINGTON – A House of Representatives committee has sent a bill to the full House that would bar non-citizens from voting in federal elections.
The U.S. House Administration Committee advanced HR 8281 on May 23 with a 6-1 vote. It also advanced another bill that would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political campaigns, also by a 6-1 vote.
“Noncitizen voting in our elections must be stopped,” Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wisconsin) said in opening remarks. ““We’re working to increase the integrity of our elections, block noncitizens from voting in our elections.”
The measure would change the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 that requires proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. It would allow states to check citizenship through federal databases.
Also Thursday, the House voted 262-143 to pass HR 192, which would overturn a current District of Columbia law that allows non-citizens to vote in local elections.
The bill would keep non-citizens from voting in elections for D.C. municipal office or on ballot initiatives and referendums. The law was passed by the D.C. Council in 2022. Some D.C. residents filed a lawsuit seeking to get rid of the law, but a federal court upheld it.
“The city council has decided they want noncitizens and foreign actors deciding who will serve as mayor and the local, attorney general here,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said May 22. “As the body in charge of overseeing DC, Congress will not support such lawless behavior.”
Congress can overturn local D.C. laws.
Several states have taken up the issue of non-citizens voting as well this spring.
Last week, the Missouri state Senate passed a measure that would allow voters to decide if non-citizens can vote in state elections. Six other states already have such constitutional amendments on the ballot for this fall’s general election.