Fifty-Six Democrats Join GOP to Overturn Voting Law

U.S. Rep. August Pfluger speaks during Operation Top Nunn

The House of Representatives has voted 266 to 148 to overturn a D.C. law permitting non-citizens to vote in local elections. With 56 Democrats in support, Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) argued that voting should be exclusive to American citizens. Pfluger pressed that the move aims to protect the integrity of the electoral process. One Democrat voted "present."

James Comer (R-KY), gavels the start of the House Committee

Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said, "The right to vote is a defining privilege of American citizenship. Diluting that right by extending it to non-citizens — whether here legally or illegally — undermines the voice of D.C. residents."

Rep. James Comer at the Fancy Farm political picnic

Pfluger had previously called the local law a leftover from the Biden administration. He expected some Democratic support for repeal.

Rep. August Pfluger speaks during the America First Agenda Summit

Pfluger said, "D.C.’s City Council made radical decisions in our nation’s capital under the Biden-Harris administration, passing local laws that are woefully inconsistent with national standards or constitutional principles."

August Pfluger speaks at Horizon Events Center

Pfluger added, "I’m proud that the House is taking action to overturn several of these reckless measures — including my legislation to prohibit noncitizens from voting in local D.C. elections."

Rep. August Pfluger delivering remarks on Capitol Hill

Rep. Maxwell Frost opposes the repeal, arguing Congress shouldn’t use D.C. laws for political gain. She claimed that fears about foreign officials voting are overstated.

Steve Scalise (R-LA) during press conference

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) argued that allowing non-citizens to vote threatens election security and invites foreign influence. The law permits non-citizens to vote locally after 30 days' residency.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise speaking during RNC

Scalise said, "If D.C. wants illegals to vote, we’ve made it clear at the federal level people here illegally should not vote in any elections."

Steve Scalise, R-La., delivers remarks on stage

Scalise added, "We’re still the most generous nation in the world in terms of our legal immigration system, but we have to fix our broken immigration system. And you could just see what’s going on in L.A. to prove the point."

Ricardo Gutierrez, left, speaks with Rep. August Pfluger, right

Pfluger said, "It's hard to go back to your district as a Democrat and say, yeah, I want foreign agents to be able to vote in our elections – ‘Oh yeah, it’s not federal elections,’ some may say. But it has an impact on the way the city is run."

Jennifer White covers U.S. politics & news for content partner Modern Newsstand LLC.