Federal Bill Blocks All Non-Citizen Voting in D.C., Overturning 2022 Local Law

This legislation aims to fundamentally change who can vote in the District of Columbia. Specifically, it mandates that only United States citizens are allowed to cast a ballot in any D.C. election, whether it’s for public office—like Mayor or City Council—or on local ballot initiatives and referendums. This is a complete restriction on non-citizens participating in D.C.’s local political process.

The 'Undo' Button on Local Voting Rights

This bill doesn’t just establish a new rule; it explicitly repeals the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 (SEC. 2). Think of that 2022 Act as the law that allowed non-citizens, including legal permanent residents and those with certain visas, to vote in local D.C. elections. By repealing it, this new bill hits the ‘undo’ button, effectively wiping the slate clean and reverting D.C.’s voting rules back to the pre-2022 standard where citizenship was required for all voting.

Who Gets Sidelined and Why It Matters

For the thousands of non-citizen residents who call D.C. home—many of whom work, pay taxes, and send their kids to local schools—this is a significant policy shift. The 2022 Act was a move by D.C. officials to give these residents a voice in local issues that directly affect their daily lives, such as school board elections, local tax measures, or zoning changes. Under this new federal bill (SEC. 1), that voice is eliminated. For example, a non-citizen parent who owns a business and pays property taxes in D.C. would lose the ability to vote on local measures affecting school funding or commercial regulations, despite being deeply invested in the community’s welfare.

Real-World Impact on Local Governance

This legislation focuses on the principle that only U.S. citizens should vote, aligning D.C.’s local franchise with federal voting standards. However, the practical effect is a restriction on local autonomy. D.C. passed the 2022 Act to address the unique needs of its diverse population. By federally mandating the repeal of that Act, this bill removes the ability of D.C. to define its own local electorate. While the bill is clear and low on legal ambiguity, its impact is high on the segment of the population that had recently gained voting rights, and on the local government’s ability to manage its own elections.