Washington, D.C. Noncitizen Voting Challenge

Lawsuit filed by a right-wing legal group on behalf of voters against Washington, D.C.’s Board of Elections challenging the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, a law that allows noncitizen residents to vote in local elections. The plaintiffs allege that the law “dilutes the vote of every U.S. citizen voter in the District,” “infringes on Plaintiffs’ fundamental right to vote” and “unlawfully discriminates against U.S. citizens living in D.C.” in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. The plaintiffs also allege that the law violates the plaintiffs’ “constitutional right to citizen self-government” by “enfranchising noncitizens, and also by allowing noncitizens to hold public office.” The lawsuit asks the state court to block the law and prohibit noncitizens from voting in local elections in the district.

On March 20, 2024, a district court judged issued a ruling that the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue and dismissed the case.

STATUS: On April 11, 2024, the right-wing plaintiffs appealed this case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The appeal in ongoing.

Last updated: April 16, 2024 10:30 am EST