The House next week will vote on a resolution from Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the frontrunner to be the next speaker of the House, that says letting illegal immigrants vote “devalues” votes cast by U.S. citizens.
McCarthy’s nonbinding resolution appears to be a reaction to the decision San Francisco made in 2016 to allow noncitizens and illegal immigrants to register to vote in school board elections. That decision was meant to reflect that a third of kids in public schools in that state have parents or guardians who are in the country illegally.
McCarthy’s resolution noted that decision, but also noted federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in elections for federal office.
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“[I]t is of paramount importance that the United States maintains the legitimacy of its elections and protects them from interference, including interference from foreign threats and illegal voting,” the resolution stated.
If approved, the resolution would state that the position of the House is that “allowing illegal immigrants the right to vote devalues the franchise and diminishes the voting power of United States citizens.”
McCarthy sets the schedule for what bills and resolutions will get votes, and plans to vote on his resolution next week were finalized Friday afternoon.
