Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), a prominent House Democrat, is facing criticism for a 1993 paper he wrote defending the concept of “Alien Suffrage,” which argues for allowing noncitizens to vote. The paper, titled “Legal Aliens, Local Citizens: The Historical Constitutional and Theoretical Meanings of Alien Suffrage,” has resurfaced amidst a contentious debate over a House bill aimed at preventing noncitizens from voting in Washington, D.C. elections.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D), the Oversight Committee's ranking member, authored a 1993 paper for the American University Washington College of Law entitled "Legal Aliens, Local Citizens: The Historical Constitutional & Theoretical Meanings of Alien Suffrage."https://t.co/YAIPauSDJo
— MJ Long (@mjlong1507) May 25, 2024
In his paper, Raskin contended that “the current blanket exclusion of noncitizens from the ballot is neither constitutionally required nor historically normal.” He suggested that “Alien suffrage would thus become part of a basic human right to democracy.”
Yes, Democrats Want Illegal Aliens To Vote In U.S. Elections. Take Jamie Raskin’s Word For It
Raskin suggested in a law paper that ‘Alien suffrage’ could ‘become part of a basic human right to democracy.’https://t.co/ausKdmbY8A
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) May 25, 2024
Raskin, who also serves as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, was among the 143 Democrats who voted against the bill to bar noncitizen voting in D.C. elections, while 52 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure.
Several cities in Raskin’s home state of Maryland have allowed foreign nationals to vote in local elections for years, with advocates arguing that resident aliens should have a say in local governance due to their contributions to the community.
Raskin is right… hiding behind the constitution to deny suffrage is shameful.
— Statehood Now!🌻 (@dcseankun) April 22, 2021
However, a national poll by RMG Research, Inc. for Americans for Citizen Voting found that 75 percent of Americans oppose allowing foreign nationals to vote in local elections, aligning with the sentiments behind the House bill and broader efforts like the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) to tighten voter registration requirements.
Republicans cite the influx of illegal immigrants and criminal cases in North Carolina revealing noncitizen voting as reasons for strengthening election integrity measures. Raskin’s office did not respond to requests for comment on his current stance on the issue.
