Proposed Constitutional Amendment Seeks to Permanently Ban Non-Citizens from All Federal, State, and Local Voting

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would permanently and explicitly ban non-citizens from voting in any election across the country. We’re talking federal races, state offices, local city council seats, and even those ballot initiatives about school funding or local taxes. If this amendment gets ratified by three-fourths of the states within the next seven years, it becomes the law of the land, overriding any local rules that might exist now or in the future.

The Citizenship Line in the Sand

Right now, federal and state elections are already restricted to citizens. However, a handful of cities and towns across the U.S. have passed local ordinances allowing non-citizens—often lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders)—to vote in municipal elections, especially for things like school boards. The thinking behind these local rules is that if you live in a town, pay taxes, and send your kids to the schools, you should have a say in how those services are run. This proposed amendment (Section: Who Can Cast a Ballot) would shut that door entirely. If ratified, it means that even if you’ve lived in the U.S. for decades, pay property taxes, and hold a Green Card, you would be constitutionally barred from voting for your local mayor or school board member.

Local Control vs. Federal Mandate

This is a big deal because it takes a power currently exercised by local governments—the power to define the franchise for local issues—and centralizes it at the constitutional level. For non-citizen residents, particularly those who are active in their communities, this means losing a potential avenue for local political participation. For cities that have already granted this right, like some in Maryland or California, it means those local laws would be instantly nullified. It’s a move toward complete uniformity on voting eligibility, but it comes at the cost of local experimentation and inclusion.

The Enforcement Question

The resolution also grants Congress the power to pass laws to enforce this new restriction (Section: Congress's Role). While the core restriction itself is clear—no non-citizens vote—the enforcement mechanism is where things could get complicated for everyone. This could mean federal mandates on how states verify citizenship during voter registration. For election officials, this might translate into new, potentially complex or burdensome documentation requirements. While the goal is simply to ensure only citizens vote, the practical reality of federal enforcement could create new hurdles and red tape for every voter, citizen or not, during the registration process.