Has the District of Columbia adopted a law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections?

The District of Columbia’s Local Resident Voting Rights Act was enacted in November 2022.

The law expanded the definition of the term qualified elector to include permanent residents for the purpose of local elections.

Advocates argued that noncitizens have an interest in schools, public safety and other issues, The Washington Post reported.

A lawsuit filed in March attempts to keep the law from going into effect. It argues that the law “dilutes” the votes of citizens and notes that it permits noncitizens to be elected to public office, including as Washington D.C. mayor.

Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, who represents part of southern Wisconsin, raised the issue in an Aug. 28, 2023, interview. Steil said a bill he introduced in July would prohibit noncitizen voting in D.C. and would prohibit federal funds from going to jurisdictions that allow non-citizens to vote.

Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections.