Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas has introduced legislation that would require Washington, D.C., residents who vote in local elections to be U.S. citizens. The “Demanding Citizenship in DC Elections Act” aims to overturn the controversial Local Resident Voting Rights Act, passed by the D.C. Council in 2022, which allows noncitizens who have resided in the city for at least 30 days to vote in local elections. Senator Marshall argues that the law undermines election integrity and allows noncitizens to influence the outcome of local elections. The bill would require any individual who votes in a municipal election to be a U.S. citizen and to also provide proof of citizenship. It also prohibits noncitizens from running for Washington, D.C., government offices and serving on the city’s Board of Elections. The legislation has drawn support from some Republicans who have expressed concerns about the potential for noncitizens to sway the outcome of local elections. However, Democrats and voting rights advocates have criticized the bill, arguing that it disenfranchises eligible voters and violates the principle of equal representation. The bill faces an uncertain future in Congress, where it is likely to face opposition from Democrats who control the Senate. Nonetheless, it highlights the ongoing debate over noncitizen voting rights and the role of citizenship in local elections.
GOP Senator Introduces Bill to Bar Noncitizens from Voting in DC Elections
