Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit voting in Federal, State, or local elections by individuals who are not citizens of the United States.

Bill Number

H.J.Res. 107

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-16: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-03-31T11:14:35Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This joint resolution (H.J. Res. 107) proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution aimed at ensuring that only U.S. citizens can participate in voting for public offices or on ballot measures, thereby reinforcing citizenship as a requirement for electoral participation across all levels of government.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: Prohibits any individual who is not a U.S. citizen from voting in elections for federal, state, or local public offices, or from voting on ballot initiatives (proposed laws put to public vote) or referendums (public votes on existing laws or policies) held anywhere in the United States.
• Section 2: Grants Congress the authority to pass laws needed to enforce the amendment.
• The amendment would take effect once ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states (38 states) within seven years of its submission by Congress, following approval by two-thirds of both the House and Senate.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Currently, the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly address non-citizen voting at the federal level, though federal law generally restricts it, and most states prohibit it. Some local jurisdictions (e.g., certain cities) allow non-citizens to vote in specific local elections, such as school board races.
• This amendment would embed a nationwide ban into the Constitution, overriding any conflicting state or local laws and making the prohibition unchangeable without another amendment.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Election officials and state/local governments would need to update voter registration processes, verification systems, and enforcement mechanisms to comply, potentially increasing administrative costs and requiring new federal oversight through congressional legislation.
• On Citizens: U.S. citizens' voting influence would be protected from dilution by non-citizen votes, but it could heighten scrutiny and challenges during elections, affecting turnout or trust in the process.
• On Non-Citizens: Legal residents (e.g., green card holders) and other non-citizens would lose any limited voting rights they currently have in some local elections, potentially discouraging civic engagement among immigrant communities.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could signal stricter U.S. policies on citizenship and immigration, influencing perceptions of the U.S. as an inclusive democracy for foreign observers or allies.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Citizens and Voters: Primary beneficiaries, as the change aims to preserve the exclusivity of their electoral voice.
• Non-Citizen Residents: Including immigrants, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals, who would be explicitly barred from voting.
• Election Administrators and Governments: Federal, state, and local officials responsible for running elections, who must implement and enforce the rules.
• Immigrant Advocacy Groups and Political Parties: Organizations and parties that may support or oppose expanded voting rights for non-citizens, potentially facing shifts in political dynamics.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal/Constitutional: As a constitutional amendment, it would be the supreme law of the land, limiting states' flexibility under the 10th Amendment (which reserves powers to states) and requiring Congress to create enforcement laws, possibly leading to court challenges over implementation details like citizenship verification.
• Political: The proposal could intensify debates on election integrity, immigration, and voter access, with supporters viewing it as a safeguard against fraud and opponents seeing it as unnecessary or exclusionary; its ratification process would test bipartisan support in Congress and state legislatures.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-16: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-07-16: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-16: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit voting in Federal, State, or local elections by individuals who are not citizens of the United States. — issued 2025-07-16 — PDF (2 pages)