It was reported earlier this week that Republicans don’t control much of government these days, having lost control of the White House and Congress, but the party is continuing to advance its agenda anyway ahead of 2022 in order to give voters a glimpse into political priorities.
And one of them is ensuring that only American citizens are able to decide state and local issues as well as choosing who to represent them.
Led by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a coalition of GOP lawmakers are sponsoring a bill that bans handing out federal taxpayer funds to localities and states that allow non-citizens to vote in U.S. elections, Just The News reported.
The outlet added: The new legislation dubbed the Protecting Our Democracy by Preventing Foreign Citizens from Voting Act, was introduced after many liberal municipalities from San Francisco to New York have moved in 2021 to allow non-citizens to cast ballots in local elections.
The measure is being cosponsored by GOP Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Kennedy, of Louisiana, Rick Scott of Florida, and James Lankford, R-Oklahoma.
Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., plans to introduce companion legislation in the House.
“It’s ridiculous that states are allowing foreign citizens to vote,” Rubio said. “However, if states and localities do let those who are not U.S. citizens to vote in elections, they shouldn’t get U.S. citizen taxpayer money.”
“Voting in this country is a right that should solely be limited to American citizens. Allowing non-citizens or illegal immigrants to vote, even if only in state or local elections, gives foreign nationals influence on some of the most important decisions impacting our families, our rights, and our representation in government,” Duncan added.
Meanwhile, Daines said he was concerned that “far-left states and cities have moved to disenfranchise Americans by allowing non-citizens to participate in our elections.”
Kennedy noted as well that the move toward non-citizen voting “makes a mockery of U.S. citizenship.”
The federal proposal comes a few months after Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R), proposed adding an amendment to the state constitution that bars non-citizens from casting ballots.
“From New York City to San Francisco, more and more extreme liberal jurisdictions are extending voting to non-citizens,” he told Just the News at the time. “Citizens-only voting has overwhelming bipartisan support.”
