DC advances Alien Voting Bill

The Washington DC city council took the first of two votes to give voting rights in local elections to foreign nationals, including illegal aliens.The Constitution dictates that the District of Columbia because it is the seat of government be under Congress’ authority.  Article 1 of the Constitution authorizes Congress to exert total legislative authority over Washington, DC. Over time, Congress has ceded its authority over to local control. However, under the Home Rule Act, Congress did retain the ability to block DC bills by passing a joint resolution that is approved by the president within 30 days of the DC mayor adopting them.                                                                                                                                                                                             When Congress passed the DC Home Rule Act in 1973, it specified that only American citizens in DC could vote in elections for federal office.  However, Congress did not specifically limit voting to American citizens when it came to DC’s local offices.