Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit persons who are not citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the United States from voting in elections.
This bill is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would ban voting in federal, state, tribal, or local elections for anyone who is not a citizen, a national, or a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States. Put differently, it seeks to reserve the right to vote to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents, with the aim of excluding non-citizens from voting. The amendment would take effect if ratified by three-fourths of the states within seven years of its submission. Congress would be empowered to enforce the amendment through legislation. Note: The drafted Section 1 language in the text appears to contain a phrasing inconsistency that could be read as barring citizens from voting, which would conflict with the stated purpose. The overall intent, as reflected in the title and preamble, is to prohibit non-citizens from voting and to allow only citizens, nationals, and LPRs to vote.
Key Points
- 1Prohibited voters: The amendment would prohibit voting by persons who are not citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the United States.
- 2Scope of elections: The ban would apply to all elections for Federal, State, Tribal, or local offices, including offices in the District of Columbia and in U.S. territories and possessions.
- 3Eligible voters under the amendment: Citizens, nationals, and lawful permanent residents would be permitted to vote, assuming implementation through appropriate legislation if needed.
- 4Enforcement authority: Congress would have the power to enforce the amendment through appropriate legislation.
- 5Ratification process and timeline: The amendment would need to be proposed by two-thirds of both the Senate and the House and then ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states within seven years of submission for ratification.