In 1993, current Assistant Speaker of the House Katherine Clark (D-MA) pushed for non-citizens’ voting rights in local elections in Massachusetts when she was serving as Melrose School Committee. Clark argued that non-citizens pay equal taxes, have children in the school system, and contribute to their communities just as citizens do, therefore, they should be given the right to vote in local elections.
This past stance has resurfaced ahead of a House vote on H.R. 1, or the For the People Act, a comprehensive election reform bill that, among other things, opposes efforts to “restrict the right to vote of United States citizens” and encourages state-level expansion of voting rights. However, the bill does not specifically address voting rights for non-citizens.
As an Assistant Speaker, Clark plays an instrumental role in promoting the Democrat’s legislative agenda, which has led critics and supporters alike to emphasize her 1993 campaign to illustrate the potential implications of certain measures in the bill. It should be noted though, that the act in its current form does not explicitly mention granting voting rights to non-citizens. This remains a controversial topic with strong arguments on both sides.
