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HJRES 31

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.

119th Congress Introduced by Jodey Arrington and 5 co-sponsors

Summary of HJRES 31: Amending the Constitution to Prohibit Non-Citizen Voting OverviewThis House Joint Resolution (HJRES 31) proposes an amendment to the United States Constitution

Introduced in House
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Bill Summary · HJRES 31

Summary of HJRES 31: Amending the Constitution to Prohibit Non-Citizen Voting

Overview

This House Joint Resolution (HJRES 31) proposes an amendment to the United States Constitution that would prohibit individuals who are not U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents from voting in any federal, state, or local election.

Key Provisions

The proposed constitutional amendment would make the following changes:

  • Prohibit Non-Citizen Voting: The amendment would explicitly state that "the right of citizens of the United States to vote in any election for President, Vice President, or any other Federal, State, or local office shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of the person not being a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States."

  • Enforcement: The amendment grants Congress the power to enforce this prohibition through "appropriate legislation."

  • Ratification: The amendment would need to be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures to be enacted.

Potential Impact

If enacted, this proposed amendment would:

  • Restrict Voting Rights: The amendment would effectively disenfranchise non-citizens, including permanent residents (green card holders), from participating in U.S. elections at any level of government.

  • Enforcement Challenges: Enforcing the prohibition on non-citizen voting could create administrative and legal challenges for state and local election officials.

  • Ratification Difficulty: Amending the Constitution requires a high bar of three-fourths of state legislatures, making successful ratification uncertain.

Procedural Timeline

  • The resolution was introduced in the House on January 31, 2025.
  • As a proposed constitutional amendment, HJRES 31 would need to be approved by a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate before being sent to the states for ratification.
  • If approved by Congress, the states would then have an unspecified period of time to consider ratifying the amendment.

Overall, this proposed amendment represents a significant effort to restrict voting rights for non-citizens at all levels of government, though its ultimate passage faces high hurdles given the constitutional amendment process.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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