4 versions

CosmeticWhat changed in REFERRED IN SENATEcompared with ENGROSSED IN HOUSE (Jun 10, 2025)

Technical corrections only. The diff reflects the bill's procedural movement from the House to the Senate, including the addition of Senate referral information and the specific name of the House Clerk. No substantive policy changes were made between v3 and v4.

H.R. 884119th CongressIntroduced Jan 31, 2025

To prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022.

Passed HouseGovernment Operations and PoliticsMajor

View bill text

Sponsor: Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Committees: Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (primary)
Last action: Jun 11, 2025

Bottom line

This bill seeks to reverse a District of Columbia law that expanded voting rights to non-citizens, thereby restricting voting to U.S. citizens only in D.C. elections.

What it actually does

This bill prohibits individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in any election for public office, ballot initiative, or referendum in the District of Columbia. It also explicitly repeals the 'Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022' (D.C. Law 24-242), thereby restoring any provisions of law that were altered by that D.C. Act.

Proponents argue

Supporters argue that voting in federal, state, or local elections should be a privilege reserved exclusively for citizens of the United States, asserting that this upholds the sanctity of national sovereignty and the social contract of citizenship. They may also contend that allowing non-citizens to vote dilutes the political power of citizens and could lead to policies not aligned with the interests of the citizenry.

Opponents contend

Opponents argue that the District of Columbia, as a self-governing entity, has the right to determine its own electoral laws, especially concerning local elections that directly impact all residents, including non-citizens who pay taxes and contribute to the community. They contend that denying voting rights to long-term residents who are not citizens but are deeply invested in the community is a form of disenfranchisement and an infringement on local autonomy.

The bill text is extremely short and straightforward, requiring less than a minute to read, making it highly accessible for immediate understanding.

Section 1

Prohibition on Noncitizen Voting in District of Columbia Elections

prominently featuredstraightforward

This section explicitly states that any individual who is not a citizen of the United States is prohibited from casting a vote in any election for public office within the District of Columbia. This prohibition also extends to any ballot initiative or referendum held in the District, ensuring that only U.S. citizens can participate in D.C.'s electoral processes.

GroupImpactMechanismScale

GroupNon-citizen residents of the District of ColumbiaImpactLoss of voting rights in local electionsMechanismDirect statutory prohibitionScaleAffects all non-citizen residents who previously gained or would have gained voting rights under D.C. law.

GroupCitizen residents of the District of ColumbiaImpactPotential shift in electoral demographics and political influenceMechanismRestricting the pool of eligible votersScaleAffects the composition of the electorate.

Supporters argue

Proponents argue that this provision upholds the principle that voting is a fundamental right and responsibility of U.S. citizenship, ensuring that only those with full allegiance to the nation participate in its governance, even at the local level.

Critics contend

Opponents contend that this provision disenfranchises a significant portion of D.C.'s tax-paying population who are deeply invested in the community and directly affected by local policies, arguing that it undermines local democratic principles.

Tradeoffs

This provision balances the principle of national citizenship as a prerequisite for voting against the principle of local self-determination and the idea that all residents affected by local laws should have a say in their governance.

Section 2

Repeal of D.C.'s Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022

prominently featuredstraightforward

This section specifically repeals the 'Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022' (D.C. Law 24-242), which had granted non-citizens the right to vote in local D.C. elections. Furthermore, it mandates that any laws or provisions that were amended or repealed by the D.C. Act are to be restored or revived as if the D.C. Act had never been enacted, effectively rolling back the legal framework that allowed non-citizens to vote.

About this analysis. AI-Generated from the official bill text and available committee reports. Gaps in available data are noted explicitly. Verify important details with the official Congress.gov record.

CosmeticWhat changed in REFERRED IN SENATEcompared with ENGROSSED IN HOUSE (Jun 10, 2025)

H.R. 884119th CongressIntroduced Jan 31, 2025

To prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022.

Passed HouseGovernment Operations and PoliticsMajor

View bill text

Sponsor: Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Committees: Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (primary)
Last action: Jun 11, 2025

Bottom line

This bill seeks to reverse a District of Columbia law that expanded voting rights to non-citizens, thereby restricting voting to U.S. citizens only in D.C. elections.

What it actually does

Proponents argue

Opponents contend

The bill text is extremely short and straightforward, requiring less than a minute to read, making it highly accessible for immediate understanding.

Section 1

Prohibition on Noncitizen Voting in District of Columbia Elections

prominently featuredstraightforward

GroupImpactMechanismScale

Supporters argue

Critics contend

Tradeoffs

Section 2

Repeal of D.C.'s Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022

prominently featuredstraightforward