Conservative Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia has introduced a new bill that would require U.S. citizenship for voter registration in Washington D.C., effectively preventing illegal immigrants from voting. The draft bill, known as the “American Confidence in Elections: District of Columbia Voter Identification Act,” aims to reverse the Local Resident Voting Rights Act that was implemented in March of this year. This earlier legislation allowed non-citizen permanent residents to participate in local elections such as mayoral elections, D.C. Council, the State Board of Education, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and the D.C. Attorney General positions.
Previously, Representative James Comer from Kentucky had introduced a House resolution to overturn the D.C. voting act, but it failed to progress beyond the committee stage after being introduced in January 2023. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s new bill seeks to revive this effort by amending the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The proposed amendments include establishing photo identification requirements for voting in D.C. elections and implementing a proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration.
In explaining her motivations for introducing the bill, Greene emphasized the importance of American citizens being the only ones eligible to vote in American elections. She stated, “That’s why I introduced the District of Columbia Voter Identification Act to safeguard election integrity by implementing mandatory photo voter ID and ensuring only American citizens are casting ballots by instituting a citizenship requirement for voter registration.”
The Local Resident Voting Rights Act, which Greene’s bill seeks to undo, was passed by the D.C. Council in October 2022. Republicans at the time voiced their opposition, arguing that allowing illegal immigrants to vote in local D.C. elections would be an insult to American voters. James Comer and Senator Tom Cotton introduced a joint resolution in January to formally disapprove of the D.C. Council measure, with Cotton stating that the idea of illegal immigrants voting was “insane.”
While opponents of Greene’s bill have not yet responded, D.C. Council member Brianne K. Nadeau, who introduced the Local Resident Voting Rights Act, previously criticized congressional efforts to overturn the measure. She argued that the bill would lead to disenfranchisement and emphasized the importance of D.C. residents having full autonomy and representation.
The issue of D.C. statehood has also been a topic of contention. In April 2021, the House passed H.R. 51, the D.C. statehood bill, along party lines with no Republican support. Democrats have long advocated for D.C. statehood, arguing that it would rectify the lack of elected representation for residents who are taxed. President Joe Biden has also expressed support for D.C. statehood and urged Congress to pass the bill.
Republicans, on the other hand, have argued that the statehood bill is not truly about representation but rather an attempt to push progressive policies. They claim that it would lead to a bigger, less efficient form of government and enable the implementation of progressive agendas such as government-run healthcare and the Green New Deal.
Representative Comer denounced the statehood bill as a “blatant power grab” by Democrats, noting that D.C. has historically leaned heavily towards the Democratic Party. He questioned whether Democrats would still support D.C. statehood if the region were predominantly Republican. Comer deemed the bill unconstitutional, impractical, and contrary to the intentions of the Founding Fathers.
The introduction of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s bill and the ongoing debate over D.C. statehood highlight the broader issues of voter rights, representation, and the power dynamics between parties in Congress. These discussions will likely continue as lawmakers and activists push for their respective agendas and seek to shape the future of American elections and governance.
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