Not a single Democrat witness questioned during a Senate hearing on the John Lewis Voting Rights Act could answer “no” to one common-sense question. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) of the Judiciary Committee asked, “Do you believe that only citizens of the United States should be able to vote in federal elections?”
Dem witnesses dodge when asked whether only citizens should be allowed to vote in federal elections https://t.co/kEf3RnjKyA
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“We don’t have a position about non-citizens voting in federal elections,” was the response of Damon T. Hewitt of the Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
Lydia Camarillo of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project said: “That’s a decision of the state law.”
The ACLU’s Lin Lakin came the closest in her testimony: “Federal law prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections and our focus is on enabling all eligible voters to be able to vote and cast their ballot.”
Both GOP witnesses unequivocally answered “no” to the same question. They affirmed that only U.S. citizens should vote and should be required to provide proof of citizenship. These were Maureen Riordan of the Public Interest Legal Foundation and the Heritage Foundation’s Hans von Spakovsky.
Von Spakovsky cited data to prove that voter ID laws have actually increased election participation among all groups, including minorities.
Sen. Lee said at the conclusion of his questioning: “You have to show identification to board an airplane … to go to the doctor … to pick up prescriptions,” he said. “Why not voting?”
Current federal law requires only that voters check a box stating that they are citizens — but no proof is required.
Addressing the voter ID issue, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said on X: “I estimate at least 900,000 aliens illegally voted in midterms.”
Numerous municipalities allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. These are all Democrat-run cities including Oakland, San Francisco and Washington D.C. A recent New York law allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections was ruled unconstitutional by a state appeals court.
The John Lewis Voting Rights Act was first introduced by Democrats in 2021. It would federalize all elections and require federal approval of all changes to state or local elections.
It would also empower the Department of Justice to determine whether citizenship requirements or voter ID laws were harming minorities.
