House votes to prevent non-citizen voters in D.C.

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The House advanced a bill Thursday that would undo a Washington, D.C. law allowing non-U.S. citizens to vote in local elections.

Fifty-two Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the legislation, but it was largely a symbolic vote.

“Take back America from the radical left,” said U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.).

GOP members, including the bill’s sponsor, U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas.) argued the D.C. law dilutes the vote of its residents.

“It is cheapening and lessening citizenship,” Pfluger said.

U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) said it’s the responsibility of Congress to protect the nation’s capital.

“People that can vote for Vladimir Putin would also get to vote for the mayor of D.C.,” Graves said. “Unbelievable.”

While 52 Democrats joined 210 Republicans to pass the bill, 143 voted to keep the DC law on the books.

“It is hypocrisy,” said U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.).

Garcia argued House Republicans have no room to talk when many still falsely claim the last presidential election was stolen.

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said this is about engaging people in their community.

“You want people at the local level to be involved in their kids’ schools,” Raskin said. “And you want people to be engaged in local government.”

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said the GOP is just playing politics with her city.

“If House Republicans cared about elections or D.C. residents, they would bring to the floor the D.C. statehood bill,” Norton said.

Republicans also want to pass legislation to block noncitizens from voting in federal elections, despite that already being illegal.

Sixteen cities and towns in the U.S. allow noncitizens to vote in their local elections.

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