The D.C. Council Passes Historic Legislation to Advance Immigrant Rights
Joint Statement Between Councilmember Nadeau, Local Community Leaders, and Organizations
WASHINGTON, DC – October 18, 2022 – The D.C. Council passed historic legislation to advance immigrant rights in its vote in favor of the “Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022”. This critical legislation will give a greater electoral voice to Black and brown D.C. residents and drastically increase immigrant communities’ political representation. The District’s diverse community comes together today in celebration of the passage of this bill and the historic enfranchisement of tens of thousands of District residents.
Starting in 2024, all residents of the District, regardless of their immigration status, will finally gain the right to vote in local elections for Mayor, Council, Attorney General, State Board of Education, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and, as well as ballot initiatives and referendums.
After multiple introductions in prior Council periods, Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau introduced the bill in 2021 and gained full support from local advocators, leaders, and residents to help get it passed. When introduced, Councilmember Nadeau stated that “People who have decided to make the District their permanent home should have a hand in who represents them in government.”
Those impacted by this bill have worked, sent children to school, and paid taxes in the District for decades without representation in government. At the July hearing before the Judiciary Committee, more than 50 witnesses testified in favor of the bill and called for expanding the introduced language to encompass all immigrants. In response to strong organizing and advocacy, the committee unanimously advanced an amended bill to the full Council, giving voting rights to all residents regardless of immigration status.
“It is so wonderful to see this legislation to the finish line,” says Councilmember Nadeau. “For nearly a decade, I have championed expanding voting rights in order that those who have made the District their home have the right to have their voice heard in our local issues, no matter their immigration status. I am proud to see this bill move forward and am especially proud to have worked alongside local advocates and residents as well as Judiciary Chairman Charles Allen. Thank you for your dedication, hard work, and tireless outreach that helped us get to this finish line.”
Multiple community organizations, local activists, advocates, and residents came together to support this bill.
“By being able to vote, immigrants will participate and have a voice in city affairs. They will be more engaged on local issues, such as education, that impact their families”, says Arturo Griffiths of the Claudia Jones School of Political Education.
“Noncitizen voting has been a top priority for years. Latino and other immigrant communities live, work, pay taxes, and contribute to our cultural fabric. It’s past time we got the right to vote, and we have been so proud to work with other organizations and activists to advocate for its passage”, says Jose Barrios, president of the D.C. Latino Caucus.
“Noncitizen voting has been a top priority for years. Latino and other immigrant communities live, work, pay taxes, and contribute to our cultural fabric. It’s past time we got the right to vote, and we have been so proud to work with other organizations and activists to advocate for its passage.”
“Local power in D.C. is about people versus money,” said Kesh Ladduwahetty of D.C. for Democracy. “Our coalition is committed to shifting power to the people, and allowing more D.C. residents to vote on the issues that affect everyone who lives here is part of how we do that long term. As an immigrant myself and someone who has worked on people-powered campaigns for years, I’m extremely proud to see D.C. demonstrate national leadership with this vote.”
“Passage of this bill means that, for the first time in our lives, I and thousands of D.C. residents, immigrants who live, work, and pay taxes in the District, will be able to vote. We will, for the first time, be able to have a say in how this city is governed and choose who represents us in the Wilson Building”, says Abel Amene, local organizer.
“Let today be a victory for all of us. After years of advocacy, our work has finally paid off. As we demand affordable housing, migrant resources, and a safer city where we can all thrive, we must always remember that organizing works, and we should never stop fighting for the communities we love”, says Kush Kharod, local organizer.
With the Council’s approval of the measure, the bill now awaits the signature of Mayor Muriel Bowser, who introduced an earlier version of the bill nearly a decade ago when she was the Ward 4 Councilmember.
# # #
