As the end of the legislative session looms in the coming days, a proposed constitutional amendment requiring a person to be a U.S. citizen to vote in Texas elections has died in the House.
Senate Joint Resolution 35 by Brian Birdwell (R–Granbury) would have amended Article VI of the Texas Constitution to prohibit persons who are not citizens of the United States from voting in Texas elections.
The amendment, if passed by two-thirds of both chambers, would have been put on the November 7 ballot for voters to decide its fate.
On the House floor, however, the amendment only received 88 votes, falling short of the 100 out of 150 votes needed to adopt it. Fifty-four Democrats voted “present” during the vote, causing it to fail.
Ballotpedia reports that seven states forbid non-citizens from voting in state and local elections. Meanwhile, local jurisdictions in California, Maryland, and Vermont do allow non-citizens to vote in their elections.
54 Democrats in the Texas House just voted “Present” on a constitutional amendment requiring a person to be a U.S. citizen to vote in Texas elections. The measure failed because 100 votes out of 150 were needed. An open border is the long-term strategy. #txlege #border pic.twitter.com/R7jVOrokhF
— Matt Schaefer (@RepMattSchaefer) May 24, 2023
State Rep. Nate Schatzline (R–Fort Worth) shared his disdain for the Democrats’ actions, calling them “shameful.”
Imagine believing that a NON U.S. citizen should be allowed to vote!!! The white lights are a sign that although democrats don’t believe this is good policy, they’re willing to ALLOW it bc it fits their narrative & helps their future elections… shameful. #txlege https://t.co/TYfVk8UJ9Y
— Nate Schatzline (@NateSchatzline) May 24, 2023
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