On Thursday, the now GOP-controlled House of Representatives passed a resolution repealing a recent effort by the District of Colombia to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. The resolution was introduced to Congress earlier this year by House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY).
The resolution is a response to the resolution passed in October by the D.C. City Council. In that resolution, called the “Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act,” the city council legalized non-citizen voting for local elections including illegal migrants, to vote in races for mayor, city council, attorney general, board of education, and other positions,
The summary of the resolution passed by the House of Representatives provides that “This joint resolution nullifies the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, enacted by the council of the District of Columbia. The act allows noncitizens who meet residency and other requirements to vote in local elections in the district.” The text of the bill itself is quite short, saying:
Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress disapproves of the action of the District of Columbia Council described as follows: The Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24–640), enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia on November 21, 2022, and transmitted to Congress pursuant to section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act on January 10, 2023.
The bill was passed by a 260 in favor and 162 against vote. Among those who voted in favor of the resolution were 218 Republicans and 42 Democrats.
Predictably, the passage of that act infuriated the radical left. D.C. Councilwoman Brianne Nadeau, for example, tweeted, “The Local Residents Voting Rights Amendment Act passes! For nearly a decade, I’ve championed expanding voting rights so that those who have made the District their home have the right for their voices to be heard in our local issues, no matter their immigration status.”
Republicans, however, were unrepentant in cheering the resolution. Rep. James Comer, for instance, applauded the bipartisan effort to allow only Americans to vote in American elections in a statement, saying:
“Today the House took the first step to prevent two of the D.C. Council’s irresponsible and dangerous laws from going into effect. These misguided efforts would allow crime to run rampant and disenfranchise American citizens in our nation’s capital.”
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“Our nation’s capital city is in crisis, but the D.C. Council has prioritized radical bills that would embolden criminals to remain on the streets and allow non-citizens, including illegal immigrants, to vote in local elections. We must ensure that these terrible laws do not take effect. The Senate must take the next step so that we can protect the American people from the D.C. Council’s path of destruction.”
Rep. Comer also tweeted about the act, saying “✅ PASSED. The House, along with 41 Democrats, supported my resolution today preventing the D.C. Council from implementing irresponsible legislation that allows illegal immigrants & noncitizens the right to vote in the nation’s capital. This terrible law must not take effect.”
By: Will Tanner. Follow me on Twitter @Will_Tanner_1