Over 500 noncitizens register to vote in local DC elections–only 28 as Republicans

On Tuesday, thousands of Washington, DC residents cast their ballots in the district's local elections. For the first time, however, United States citizens were not the only ones allowed to do so after a new law that came into effect this week extending the ability to vote in local elections to noncitizens.

Under the Local Resident Voting Rights Act, noncitizens can vote in local elections if they have been residents in the jurisdiction for only 30 days, meet requirements regarding age and competency, and have not registered to vote elsewhere in the country. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 still prohibits noncitizens from taking part in state and federal elections. 

The DC Board of Elections allowed noncitizens to prove their residency via any of a number of documents.



According to the Washington Post, as of Tuesday, over 500 noncitizens in the nation's capital had registered to vote. Among them, 310 registered as Democrats, 169 as independents, and just 28 as Republicans. A further 16 registered for the Green party.

A total of six seats on City Council were up for grabs, including Ward 2, Ward 4, Ward 7, Ward 8, and two At-large. These were the only races noncitizens were allowed to vote in. Citizens, on the other hand, also had the opportunity to cast their ballots in a number of primary elections, including those for US House non-voting delegate, US Senate shadow senator, and US House shadow representative.

DC's decision to extend the right to vote in municipal elections to noncitizens has faced its fair share of criticism. In May, the House voted to block the law, however it still has to pass the Senate before it could be implemented. In the meantime, a number of politicians at the state and federal level have expressed their dismay.
 

"The radical progressive Democrats in the DC city government couldn't be prouder of the fact that they're going to have illegal aliens voting in their elections," Texas Rep. Chip Roy told the Daily Mail, "yet, they want us to believe that it's going to stop there, and that none of them are going to try — or be encouraged — to illegally vote in federal elections? Give me a break."