Judicial Watch has revealed through public records that 388 non-citizens cast ballots in Washington, D.C.’s November 2024 general election. This data, obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, raises concerns over the integrity of local election practices. The findings highlight potential conflicts between federal law and local voting policies.
Federal law prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections. However, states and municipalities, including Washington, D.C., may allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. In 2023, the D.C. Council amended its election code to permit all non-citizen residents, including those in the country illegally, to participate in local elections. This change paved the way for the votes cast in 2024.
Judicial Watch received a spreadsheet from the D.C. Board of Elections documenting these votes. The data showed that more than 230 of the non-citizen voters were registered Democrats, fewer than 20 were registered Republicans, and the remainder either registered with third parties or did not declare a party affiliation. The report did not specify whether these individuals were restricted to voting solely for local offices, as required by law.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton criticized the findings, calling it “an outrage and insult to every American citizen.” Fitton also urged Congress to take immediate action to end this practice. The controversy adds fuel to debates over the Local Resident Voting Rights Act, passed by the D.C. Council in October 2022. This law allows non-citizens to vote and run for office in municipal elections.
A lawsuit challenging the law was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee, who upheld the statute in 2023. Judicial Watch had previously uncovered documents instructing non-citizens, including illegal immigrants, on how to register for local elections in D.C., further intensifying scrutiny of these policies.
These developments spark renewed discussion about the balance between local autonomy and federal oversight, as well as the broader implications for election integrity nationwide.
