The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives plans to vote on Wednesday on a bill that aims to ban non-citizens from voting in federal elections. This move comes in response to former President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claims about election fraud.
House Republican leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, are backing the measure, citing concerns that people who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally could cast ballots in the upcoming presidential and congressional elections. On Tuesday, Johnson claimed without evidence that Democrats are encouraging non-citizen voting.
“Many of the Democrats want all of these illegals to participate in our federal elections. They want them to vote,” Johnson said at a news conference.
The legislation, however, is expected to be dead on arrival in the Democratic-majority Senate. Democrats have called the bill a “stunt” aimed at creating “confusion and distrust” and warned that it constitutes voter suppression.
“For all their rhetorical rhetoric … Republicans have one real purpose here: to continue to erode the confidence of Americans in our election system,” said Representative Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee.
New Mexico Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez warned that the legislation, if enacted, would make it harder for U.S. citizens to vote, particularly impacting armed services members, Indigenous Americans, and people who live in rural areas.
“Voter suppression is evident when Republicans take aim at voter participation,” Fernandez stated.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to support efforts to hold off a bid to oust him from leadership by Republican hardliner Marjorie Taylor Greene. He unveiled plans for political attacks during an appearance in Iowa on Friday.
