No Foreign Persons Administering Our Elections Act

Bill Number

H.R. 882

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Last Updated

2025-06-13T18:35:30Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation, titled the "No Foreign Persons Administering Our Elections Act," aims to ensure that only U.S. citizens are hired to manage elections for federal offices (such as those for Congress or the President) in state or local jurisdictions. It seeks to restrict election administration roles to citizens to maintain the integrity of federal voting processes.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on Hiring Non-Citizens: States and local jurisdictions are barred from employing individuals who are not U.S. citizens to administer federal elections. "Administer" likely includes tasks like overseeing polling places, handling ballots, or verifying voter eligibility.
• Effective Date: The rule takes effect for any federal election occurring on or after the date the law is enacted.
• Scope: Applies specifically to elections for federal offices, not state or local ones.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This introduces a new federal mandate that overrides any prior state or local practices allowing non-citizens (e.g., legal residents or immigrants) to serve in election administration roles.
• Previously, under the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 4), states have primary authority over election procedures, with limited federal intervention. This bill imposes a uniform citizenship requirement, potentially altering hiring standards in jurisdictions that previously had more flexible rules.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: State and local election boards or offices may face challenges in recruiting staff, especially in areas with labor shortages or diverse populations, leading to increased administrative burdens or costs for verifying citizenship.
• On Citizens: U.S. citizens benefit from a policy perceived to enhance election security by limiting roles to those with full civic ties, potentially building public trust in federal voting processes.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly affect perceptions of U.S. immigration policies by emphasizing citizenship for civic duties; no provisions address foreign governments or entities.
• Broader Effects: Jurisdictions with high non-citizen populations (e.g., border states or urban areas) might experience staffing disruptions, possibly delaying election preparations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• State and Local Election Officials: Directly responsible for compliance, including updating hiring policies and training.
• Potential Election Workers: Non-citizens (such as green card holders or visa recipients) who previously could apply for these roles are excluded, narrowing the workforce pool.
• U.S. Citizens and Voters: Indirectly affected through changes in election staffing that could influence operational efficiency and perceived fairness.
• Federal Government: Congress and oversight bodies (e.g., the Election Assistance Commission) gain a tool to enforce national standards on state-run processes.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Constitutional Considerations: Raises questions under the Elections Clause (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 4), which grants states broad control over federal elections but allows Congress to regulate. It may face challenges if viewed as infringing on states' rights or discriminating based on citizenship status (potentially under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, though citizenship distinctions are often upheld for government roles).
• Legal Implications: Could lead to lawsuits over enforcement, such as how to define "administer" or handle pre-enactment hires. No penalties are specified in the bill, leaving implementation details to future regulations.
• Political Implications: Aligns with debates on election security and immigration, potentially polarizing views on federal versus state authority; as an introduced bill (H.R. 882, 119th Congress), it reflects priorities of its sponsors but has not yet passed, so its real-world effects depend on legislative progress.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

Cosponsors (9)

Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham [R-AZ-8], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Goldman, Craig [R-TX-12], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
• 2025-01-31: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-31: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• No Foreign Persons Administering Our Elections Act — issued 2025-01-31 — PDF (2 pages)