Non-Citizen Voting

Author Man vyi (PD)

There are currently 25 million non-citizens residing in the United States, 11 million of whom are here illegally [1A].

While voting by non-citizens is prohibited in federal elections, only 7 states (AL, AZ, CO, FL, LA, ND, and OH) expressly prohibit non-citizens from voting in state and local elections [1B][2].

DC and certain municipalities in VT, MD, and CA now allow non-citizens to vote in local elections [3].  Only a few distinguish between legal and illegal aliens, for voting purposes.

Political Posturing

By and large, Democrats and Republicans hold opposing views on this topic.

Democrats accuse Republicans of creating a bogeyman to inflame their base.  Republicans accuse Democrats of favoring open borders and an expanded electorate in the hope of currying favor with new voters, regardless of consequences.

Arguments in Favor
A.  Taxation

“…the United States was founded on the promise of ‘no taxation without representation’ — yet there are some…who are unable to participate in the elections that affect their lives and livelihoods.  And yes, most of them pay taxes.”

–Nicholas Goldberg, Assoc. Ed, Los Angeles Times [4A]

Many assume that non-citizens do not pay taxes.  However, resident aliens, i.e. those with green cards, are subject to the same tax laws as US citizens [5].

According to the American Immigration Council, even undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes (including sales, property and income taxes) [6][7].

B.  Assimilation

Proponents of non-citizen voting — on the local level, at any rate — argue that it might be viewed as part of the process of becoming assimilated, and ultimately attaining citizen status [4B].

C.  Equity

Proponents of non-citizen voting argue that prohibiting non-citizens from voting is discriminatory public policy, since there are substantial barriers to naturalization [8A].  Meanwhile, allowing non-citizens to vote promotes the good of society as a whole [8B].

Arguments Against
A.  Citizenship Devalued

“Non-citizen voting dilutes the value of citizenship, normalizes illegal immigration, and invites foreign nationals to interfere in US elections….allowing [them] …direct influence in important decisions ranging from policing to taxation to the basic rule of law.”

US Rep. Jeff Duncan, SC (R) [9]

Opponents of non-citizen voting believe that citizenship is undermined by allowing non-citizens to vote.  Citizens are directly impacted by the outcome of elections, while mere residents have less of a stake.

Opponents take the view that allowing non-citizens the privilege of voting would discourage them from seeking citizenship, and would not promote the good of society as a whole [8C].

B.  Foreign Influence

There is a further grave concern as to foreign (including communist) influence.

Biblical View
A.  True Citizenship

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3: 20).

A Christian’s true citizenship is in heaven.

B.  Rendering to Caesar

“…’Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s‘” (Matt. 22: 21).

On earth Christians are to pay taxes; follow the law, and submit to “every authority instituted among men…” (Rom. 13: 2-5; 1 Peter 2: 13-14). 

Christians are, of course, to speak out when man’s law conflicts with God’s (Matt. 10: 28; Acts 5: 29).  Apart from that, laws are to be impartial, favoring neither rich nor poor (Lev. 19: 15). 

As for voting, Christians take part in order to select capable representatives (Ex. 18: 21); to influence society for good (Matt. 5: 13); and to serve as good stewards (Gen. 1: 28; 1 Cor. 4: 2) [11].

C.  Commitment

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deut. 6: 5).

Christianity requires commitment (1 Kings 8: 61; Gal. 6: 9; 2 Tim. 4: 7).

Citizenship is like that, as well.  It involves more than residence.  It requires loyalty to a specific nation, and devotion to a set of ideals for which men and women have given their lives.  That degree of commitment necessarily gives rise to rights and obligations not open to non-citizens.

Under levitical law, the Israelites were not to mistreat the strangers living among them (Lev. 19: 33-34).  But Israelite leaders were not chosen from such strangers.

Surely, we can establish laws that are fair to all without extending the vote to non-citizens.  To conflate citizens with non-citizens eliminates any distinction.

D.  One World Government

“It was granted to him [the Antichrist] to make war with the saints and to overcome them.  And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (Rev. 13: 7).

We are rapidly moving in the direction of a one world government, just as prophesied by Scripture [12].

Open borders and obliteration of essential differences between the citizens of one nation and those of another are critical steps in that direction.

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[1A and 1B]  Ballotpedia, “Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States”, https://ballotpedia.org/Laws_permitting_noncitizens_to_vote_in_the_United_States.

[2]  GovInfo, “Public Law 104-208 — Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996”, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-104publ208/pdf/PLAW-104publ208.pdf.

[3]  Ballotpedia, “Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States – Details about noncitizens voting in local elections”, https://ballotpedia.org/Laws_permitting_noncitizens_to_vote_in_the_United_States#Details_about_noncitizen_voting_in_local_elections.

[4A and 4B]  Governing, “Is It Time to Let to Let Noncitizens Vote in Local Elections?  Some Americans Think That’s Just Nutty”, 9/14/23, https://www.governing.com/politics/is-it-time-to-let-noncitizens-vote-in-local-elections-some-americans-think-thats-just-nutty.

[5]  IRS, “Topic no. 851, Resident and non-resident aliens”, https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc851.

[6]  American Immigration Council, “Adding Up the Billions in Tax Dollars Paid by Undocumented Immigrants”, 4/4/16, https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/adding-billions-tax-dollars-paid-undocumented-immigrants.

[7]  Assuming illegal aliens are duly reported (“on the books”) as employees by their employers, many who do not file income tax returns still have taxes deducted from their paychecks.  Despite that, they may not file for benefits for fear of discovery.

[8A, 8B, and 8C]  Ballotpedia, “Arguments for and against laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States”, https://ballotpedia.org/Arguments_for_and_against_laws_permitting_noncitizens_to_vote_in_the_United_States.

[9]  US Congressman Jeff Duncan, “Stop pretending non-citizen voting is normal – it’s not”, 2/8/22, https://jeffduncan.house.gov/media/in-the-news/stop-pretending-non-citizen-voting-normal-its-not.

[10]  Christians are, of course, to speak out when man’s law conflicts with God’s (Matt. 10: 28; Acts 5: 29).

[11]  Free Voters Guide, Liberty Institute, “The Biblical Church and State”, February 2014, https://freevotersguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Biblical-Role-of-Citizenship.pdf.

[12]  Got Questions, “Does the Bible prophesy a one-world government and a one-world currency in the end times”, https://www.gotquestions.org/one-world-government.html.

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