House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and Representative August Pfluger have expressed approval following the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 884. This legislation aims to prohibit non-U.S. citizens from voting in local elections in Washington, D.C.
Chairman Comer stated, “It’s common sense that only American citizens should have the right to vote.” He emphasized that allowing noncitizens to participate in D.C.’s electoral process undermines American citizenship’s core privilege and affects the rights of American voters to choose their representatives effectively. He added that by passing H.R. 884, the House has made a significant move towards empowering American citizens in D.C., urging the Senate to act similarly.
Rep. Pfluger remarked on the importance of maintaining free and fair elections as essential for a healthy republic, criticizing the D.C. Council’s decision to allow noncitizens, including illegal aliens and foreign agents, to vote locally. He stated that this dilutes citizen voters’ power, which must be protected. Pfluger expressed satisfaction with the House Republicans’ actions supporting his bill and called for a restoration of voting process integrity.
The background of this legislative move involves a November 2022 action by the District of Columbia through the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act (D.C. Act 24-640), which permitted noncitizen voting in local elections. In February 2023, Chairman Comer led a resolution opposing this Act; it passed in the House with bipartisan support but was not acted upon by the Senate.
