AUSTIN - On Monday, the Senate Committee on State Affairs heard testimony on SJR 35, a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment clarifying that voters must be U.S. citizens.
SJR 35 was introduced by Sen. Brian Birdwell, a Republican representing District 22.
During the hearing, Birdwell said the amendment is necessary to preserve election integrity and keep the process secure.
The senator’s sentiment was shared by Karen Marshall of The State Republican Executive Committee (SD 26).
Marshall testified that she has had the joyous experience of registering hundreds of naturalized citizens to vote but believes giving that right to non-citizens would “dilute” elections and invite foreign nationalists to interfere.
A couple of naturalized citizens were on hand to testify in support of the amendment, including one individual who fled from Iran with his family when he was still young.
Brian Taef, a U.S. military veteran, testified that he and his family were victims of prosecution and fled Iran by walking all the way to Turkey at night because it was unsafe to travel during the day.
Carine Martinez of the Texas Public Policy Foundation also gave her testimony, saying that the amendment is “crucial” for national sovereignty.
Martinez, who is originally from France, said the clarification will help preserve the “great experiment” that so many immigrants get to be a part of here in America.
Currently, more than a dozen states and municipalities allow non-citizen voting in local elections.
Back in October, the D.C. Council voted to allow non-citizen residents the right to vote in local elections.
On Feb. 9, the House passed HJR 24, disapproving the action of the D.C. Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022. A total of 260 representatives voted in favor of the resolution, including 42 Democrats, several of which call Texas home.
A recent poll found that the majority of voters are not in favor of allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections.
Americans for Citizen Voting surveyed 1,000 registered voters and found that 75 percent oppose allowing people who are not U.S. citizens to vote in local elections, with only 20 percent in favor.
When asked about Congress’ action to stop non-citizens from voting in the nation’s capital, 69 percent of those surveyed said they were in favor.
If passed, the proposed constitutional amendment would be submitted to voters at an election to be held on Nov. 7, 2023.
SJR 35 was voted out of the committee by a vote of 10-0.