Democrats and Republicans Prepare for Showdown on Noncitizen Voting in DC This Week

In a highly contentious debate this week in Washington, D.C., Democratic leaders in the House are urging members to oppose a Republican bill that seeks to block a district law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections, as reported by Axios.

This clash reflects a recurring theme in the 118th Congress, with House Republicans leveraging their majority to challenge progressive laws enacted by the district.

Leading up to the November election, these battles have put vulnerable Democrats in a tough spot, as Republicans target those who vote against repealing district laws on crime and immigration.

The forthcoming vote, anticipated on Wednesday or Thursday, marks the second attempt by House Republicans to overturn noncitizen voting in D.C. Last February, the House voted 260-162 to repeal the law, but the bill didn’t advance in the Senate.

In the previous House vote, 42 Democrats supported the GOP bill.

Although the current bill is unlikely to progress in the Senate or be signed by President Joe Biden, Republicans view the discourse as advantageous for their campaigns.

According to National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Will Reinert, Democrats have already expressed support for granting illegal migrants voting rights, making any change in their stance seem like opportunistic election-year maneuvering.

The whip team rallying Democrats to oppose the bill highlights that “16 other jurisdictions in the U.S. have passed similar measures” permitting noncitizen voting. Moreover, most House Democrats have historically backed D.C.’s self-governance and statehood rights, Axios noted.