A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit against a Washington, D.C., law that permits noncitizens to participate in local elections, with the ruling indicating that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate personal harm from the legislation.
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson found that the complaint from seven D.C. residents, who contended that noncitizen voting in local elections diluted the value of their votes, lacked merit, according to The Washington Post. These residents argued against the 2022-passed D.C. Noncitizen Voting Act, suggesting it undermined their voting power but did not establish that it resulted in any discriminatory treatment or denied opportunities.
Judge Jackson clarified that while the plaintiffs might disagree with the policy permitting immigrants to vote, such participation does not diminish the weight of citizens’ votes in comparison to those of noncitizens.
The Immigration Reform Law Institute, acting on behalf of the plaintiffs, announced plans to challenge the decision, emphasizing concerns over the sovereignty implications of such laws. Among the plaintiffs were Stacia Hall, a GOP mayoral candidate in 2022, and Dick Heller, known for his pivotal role in a landmark 2008 Supreme Court decision on gun rights in D.C.
Their legal action aimed to prevent noncitizens from registering to vote and highlighted the law’s provision allowing noncitizens to pursue public office. Despite previous unsuccessful attempts to extend voting rights to noncitizens in D.C., this law was enacted last year after surviving scrutiny from both House Republicans and some Democrats.
Advocates of the statute argue that noncitizens, as contributing members of the community, merit a voice in local governance. Jose Barrios, president of the D.C. Latino Caucus, articulated this stance, advocating for noncitizens’ engagement in local democratic processes, underscoring their contributions to the city’s economy, education, and community life.
