In a bipartisan move, two moderate House Democrats are spearheading an initiative to prevent noncitizens from participating in U.S. elections.
Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washington) have joined forces with Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) and Andrew Garbarino (R-New York) in this legislative endeavor, a significant development with the November presidential election less than half a year away.
According to Fox News, the support of these Democratic lawmakers is noteworthy. A bill to overturn Washington, D.C.'s policy of permitting noncitizens to vote in local elections faced strong opposition from the progressive left. However, it ultimately passed with the backing of 52 Democrats. Earlier this month, House GOP leaders successfully passed legislation mandating proof of citizenship during the voter registration process. This bill, endorsed by former President Trump, garnered support from five Democrats but has yet to be considered by the Senate.
This legislative move coincides with Republicans attributing the ongoing migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border to the Biden administration's border and immigration policies. Some conservatives suggest this could potentially lead to illegal immigrants casting votes in American elections.
Golden emphasized the importance of citizenship in voting rights, stating, "Across the world, the awesome and exclusive rights of citizens are intrinsically linked to equally awesome and exclusive responsibilities. You cannot have one without the other. So, this bill also affirms that no matter where you live in our country, the right to vote in the United States is a right reserved for citizens alone."
Echoing Golden's sentiments, Perez asserted, "We need to uphold the constitutional ideal that decisions made for our country are made by citizens of our country and this bipartisan legislation will protect the integrity of Americans choices at the ballot box."
The proposed legislation not only prohibits states from allowing noncitizens to vote in federal elections, a practice already deemed illegal, but it also threatens to withhold federal funding from states that permit noncitizens to vote in state and local elections. Furthermore, the bill seeks to expand voting access for American citizens by mandating states to allow unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections, a departure from the current "closed primaries" system.
Fitzpatrick, commenting on his bill, said, "This commonsense reform is not political or controversial. It ensures every U.S. citizen, regardless of political affiliation, has the unequivocal right to vote while reinforcing election integrity by strictly prohibiting non-citizens from participating in taxpayer-funded elections."
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