In a stunning display of just how far the Democratic Party has drifted on election integrity, nearly 150 House Democrats voted this week against a bill that would ban noncitizens from voting in local elections in the nation’s capital.
The legislation, which passed the House 266–148, seeks to overturn a 2022 law passed by the D.C. Council that allows noncitizens—including green card holders, visa holders, and even illegal aliens—to vote in municipal elections after just 30 days of residency.
Every single Republican voted in favor of blocking the D.C. law, joined by 56 Democrats who broke ranks with their party to support the bill. The remaining 148 Democrats sided with the D.C. Council, defending a policy that allows foreign nationals to influence American elections in the seat of federal government.
Republican lawmakers emphasized the obvious: voting is a right reserved for American citizens. “You should not be voting in American elections if you are not an American citizen,” said one lawmaker during floor debate. “This is not complicated—it’s common sense.”
Supporters of the bill argue that the Constitution gives Congress the authority to override D.C.’s local laws when they violate basic national principles, like protecting the sanctity of the vote.
Democrats defending the D.C. policy claimed that noncitizen voting only applies to local races and reflects the city’s “inclusive values.” But opponents point out the dangerous precedent it sets—particularly when applied in the city that houses every major federal institution.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle. If it clears the Senate, President Trump is expected to sign it, dealing a major blow to the far-left agenda that has taken root in deep-blue cities like Washington, D.C.
At its core, the vote has drawn a bold line in the sand: one party stands for citizens-only voting, the other continues to push policies that chip away at national sovereignty.