House passes Rep. Pfluger’s bill to block noncitizen voting in DC elections

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Concho Valley Homepage) — The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill introduced by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, that would bar noncitizens from voting in local Washington, D.C., elections and repeal a 2022 D.C. law that granted that right.

The measure passed with bipartisan support in a 266-148 vote, marking the second consecutive year the House has approved similar legislation. A previous version passed in 2024 with a vote of 262-143.

Pfluger’s bill targets the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, which allowed noncitizen residents — including green card holders, undocumented immigrants, and foreign nationals — to vote in D.C. municipal elections after residing in the city for as little as 30 days.

“The radical D.C. Council decided to allow noncitizens — including illegal aliens and foreign agents — to vote in local elections,” Pfluger said in a statement following the vote. “Allowing noncitizens to vote opens Pandora’s box to D.C.’s already radical local policies, diluting the voting power of citizen voters.”

“Today, the House took action to defend that power and restore the sanctity of the voting process,” he added.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., praised the bill’s passage.

“It’s common sense that only American citizens should have the right to vote,” Comer said. “Allowing noncitizens to vote in D.C. elections undermines the defining privilege of American citizenship and dilutes the right of American citizens to elect the candidates who best represent them. By passing H.R. 884, the House took a crucial step toward empowering American citizens in D.C. to vote in local elections and restoring the rule of law in our nation’s capital.”

Comer added that the House Oversight Committee is “committed to defending Americans’ fundamental right to vote and responsible governance in D.C.,” and called on the Senate to take up the measure.