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Federal Judge Upholds Washington DC Law Allowing Noncitizens to Vote
A ruling by US District Judge for the District of Columbia Amy Berman Jackson, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, upheld a law passed by the DC Council in October 2022, which permits noncitizens, including illegal aliens, to vote in municipal elections. Additionally, the law allows noncitizens to run for office, a controversial provision that has sparked debate.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Noncitizen Voting Law
The lawsuit, brought forward by a conservative group and reported on by Fox News, challenged the Local Resident Voting Rights Act. The group, represented by the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI), alleged that allowing noncitizens, including illegal immigrants and foreign embassy staff members, to participate in local elections was unconstitutional and harmful to US citizen voters.
In her 12-page opinion, Judge Jackson dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the law. She highlighted that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate how they were directly harmed by noncitizens voting or running for office. Jackson noted that the complaint did not show any denial of the plaintiffs’ right to vote, discrimination, inequitable treatment, or subordination of their rights as citizens based on their ancestry.
According to the judge, the plaintiffs did not provide evidence of any rights being taken away or diminished due to the involvement of noncitizens in the electoral process. In her ruling, Judge Jackson emphasized the need for concrete evidence of harm suffered by US citizen voters before legal challenges could be considered.
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