WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to scrap a Washington, DC, law permitting noncitizens to vote in local elections and overturn another local law curtailing law enforcement liability protections.
In a 266 to 148 vote with one present, the House moved to nix the 2022 Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act and ensure that only US citizens can vote in DC elections.
“Free and fair elections are a prerequisite for a healthy republic,” Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), who introduced the bill, said in a statement. “The radical DC Council’s decision to allow noncitizens—including illegal aliens and foreign agents—to vote in local elections dilutes the voting power of the citizen voter.”
“That power must be defended, and I am thrilled House Republicans took action today to do so.”
Under the DC Home Rule Act of 1973, the nation’s capital has certain authority, such as the ability to elect its own mayor and city council, but Congress can scuttle local laws.
Congress had gone over 30 years without meddling in DC affairs, but ended that streak in 2023 when it nixed a local law that rolled back penalties for certain felonies, such as armed robbery.
Former President Joe Biden backed the overturning of that law, despite initially signalling a veto.
Last year, House Republicans attempted to nix the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act, but were unable to get it through the Senate, which has since flipped into GOP control.
DC is not the only municipality that allows noncitizens to vote in local election contests. There are cities in California, Vermont, and Maryland that also allow it.
The nation’s capital allows noncitizens to vote for mayor, attorney general, city council, city ballot measures and more. Noncitizens are also allowed to run for office in DC.
Proponents of the policy have argued that DC is home to noncitizens who have lived in the city for decades and pay taxes but haven’t been able to vote. Under current law, noncitizens are forbidden from voting in federal elections.
Pfluger has been a staunch opponent of the law and argued that it undermines the rights of American citizens.
“Anyone who voted against this legislation voted for the transfer of political power away from legal voters,” Pfluger told The Post. “With the House passage of my legislation today, we are one step closer to restoring the sanctity of the voting process to ensure that only American citizens are voting in our nation’s capital.”
Another bill, titled the “Protecting Our Nation’s Capital Emergency Act,” introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), also cleared the lower chamber in a 235-178 vote with one lawmaker voting present.
“The Metropolitan Police Department is facing a public safety crisis brought on by reckless policies that have stripped officers of basic protections and left the force dangerously understaffed,” Garbarino said in a statement.
“This legislation helps right that wrong by giving MPD the tools and support they need to recruit, retain, and protect. Congress has a duty to ensure our nation’s capital is safe.”
The DC Police Union, which includes some 3,000 members, had endorsed the bill that rolls back DC’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which limited Metropolitan Police Department officers’ ability to collectively negotiate disciplinary actions.
Garbarino’s measure also restores a statute of limitations on claims against DC police.
“Mayor Bowser continues to oppose all congressional interference in the lives and affairs of Washingtonians. DC will continue to fight to protect our home rule and self-determination,” the DC mayor’s office said in a statement to The Post.
Later this week, the House is expected to take up a third bill targeting the nation’s capital, titled the “District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act,” which axes city policies to limit compliance with immigration enforcement authorities.
DC is still lobbying Congress to pass legislation to fix an inadvertent $1 billion cut in its budget from a stopgap measure to prevent a partial government shutdown in March.
“If Congress wants to be helpful, they should pass the District of Columbia Local Funds Act to fix their damage to DC’s FY25 budget,” the DC mayor’s office added.
