Staff Reports
The House will be voting on a bill to stop noncitizens from voting in local elections within Washington, D.C. This bill is being pushed by Republicans, in an attempt to force Democrats into a difficult position ahead of the November election.
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Last year, House Republicans tried to pass a similar measure and it was successful with a 260-162 vote. However, the bill did not advance in the Senate, which was controlled by the Democrats. This time around, Republicans are hoping to once again put their Democratic colleagues on the spot, as they emphasize election security as a top concern for the upcoming November elections.
The upcoming vote is already creating tension as House Minority Whip Katherine Clark is urging her fellow Democrats to oppose the bill on the floor. Additionally, Republican leaders are working on a separate bill to prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections. They are framing this issue within the context of the surge of illegal immigration at the border, making it a key point of criticism against the Biden administration.
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Will Reinert criticizes the Democratic stance, claiming that some House Democrats are supporting the idea of allowing illegal migrants to vote in local elections. He suggests that any change in their position would be seen as “disgusting election-year politics.”
Even though the bill’s passage in the House seems likely, it is unlikely to make any progress in the Senate. Additionally, even if it does make it to President Joe Biden’s desk, it will likely be vetoed.
