HR884-119

What This Bill Does

This bill overrides D.C.'s noncitizen local voting law. Section 1 provides that an individual who is not a U.S. citizen may not vote in an election for public office in the District of Columbia or in any D.C. ballot initiative or referendum. Section 2 repeals the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, D.C. Law 24-242. It also restores or revives any provision of law amended or repealed by that D.C. Act as if the Act had never been enacted.

Who Benefits and How

Supporters of citizen-only voting in D.C. benefit because the bill creates a federal prohibition on noncitizen voting in D.C. elections and ballot measures. U.S. citizen voters in the District benefit if they view noncitizen voting as diluting citizen electoral participation. D.C. election administrators benefit from a clear federal rule if they must remove noncitizen voting processes created by the 2022 D.C. law. Members of Congress asserting authority over D.C. election policy benefit from a direct statutory override of the local law.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Noncitizen residents of the District of Columbia lose eligibility to vote in D.C. public office elections, ballot initiatives, and referenda. The D.C. government must unwind the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and restore prior law. D.C. election officials must update voter eligibility rules, forms, outreach, and systems. Advocates for local voting rights for noncitizen residents bear a policy burden because the local law is repealed and treated as if it had not been enacted.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits individuals who are not U.S. citizens from voting in D.C. public office elections.
• Prohibits noncitizen voting in D.C. ballot initiatives and referenda.
• Repeals the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022.
• Restores or revives any provision of law amended or repealed by the 2022 D.C. Act.
• Establishes federal control over this element of District of Columbia election eligibility.