2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Disapprove D.C.'s November 2022 Ordinance
That Would Allow Non-Citizens, Including Undocumented Immigrants, To
Vote In Local D.C. Elections Starting In 2024. In February 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for a resolution
that would "establish congressional disapproval of, effectively
repealing, the November 2022 District of Columbia Council legislation
allowing noncitizens, including undocumented immigrants, to vote in
local D.C. elections beginning in 2024." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the resolution by a vote of 260 to 162, thus the resolution
was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 118,
2/9/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/9/23;
Congressional Actions, H.J.Res.
24]
The D.C. Ordinance Would Allow Foreign Citizens Who Live In D.C.,
Including Undocumented Immigrants, To Vote In Location, And Mayor
Bowser Allowed The Bill To Become Law Without Her Signature.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The other measure would allow
foreign citizens residing in D.C., including undocumented
immigrants, to vote in local elections. That bill passed the D.C.
Council in October. Bowser did not act on the bill, allowing it to
be enacted without her signature." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/9/23]
Republicans Claimed The D.C. Law Hindered Election Integrity And
Aggravated Migration Challenges On The Southern Border. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "Congressional Republicans argued that
legislation undermines election integrity and aggravates migration
challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/9/23]
Republicans Criticized The Law As Particularly Inappropriate
Because Of The Hundreds Of Foreign Embassies In D.C. According to
the Associated Press, "The measure to grant noncitizens, including
immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, the right to vote in local
elections is not unique. Similar measures have passed in multiple
jurisdictions around the country, including Takoma Park, Maryland
--- a liberal bastion on the outskirts of Washington that is
Raskin's home district. But multiple Republican critics claimed that
the unique nature of D.C. with its hundreds of foreign embassies,
made it particularly inappropriate." [Associated Press,
2/9/23]
About 50,000 Non-Citizens Reside In D.C. Out Of 700,000
Residents. According to the Associated Press, "Official estimates
set the number of noncitizen D.C. residents at around 50,000, out of
a total population of just under 700,000 residents." [Associated
Press,
2/9/23]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Disapprove D.C.'s Voting
Eligibility Law. In February 2023, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the "adoption of the rule (H Res 97)
that would provide for consideration of [...] a joint resolution (H J
Res 24) disapproving the D.C. Council voting eligibility law." The vote
was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of
217 to 208. [House Vote 109,
2/7/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/7/23;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
24;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
97]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Disapprove D.C.'s Voting
Eligibility Law. In February 2023, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the "motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule
(H Res 97) that would provide for consideration of [...] a joint
resolution (H J Res 24) disapproving the D.C. Council voting eligibility
law." The vote was on a motion to order the previous question. The House
agreed to the motion by a vote of 217 to 208. [House Vote 108,
2/7/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/7/23;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
24;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
97]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Prohibit Noncitizens From Voting In Local
D.C. Elections and To Repeal The Local Law That Allows Noncitizens To
Vote In Local Elections. In May 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for ,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill that would prohibit
noncitizens from voting in an election for public office and for any
ballot initiative or referendum in the District of Columbia. It also
would repeal a D.C. local resident voting rights law which allows
noncitizens, including undocumented immigrants, to vote in local D.C.
elections." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 262 to 143. [House Vote 232,
5/23/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/23/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
192]