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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 15, 2023 09:46 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tim Brennan |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Expanding the Voting Rights of United States Citizens Born Abroad |
| Like their peers living in the United States, citizens born abroad become eligible to vote when they turn 18. However, if these citizens have not yet resided in the United States, they are only permitted to vote in federal elections, absent further action from the states. These “never resided” citizens are required to register for selective service, annually file a tax return, and report foreign financial accounts. Despite this and the fact that they are United States citizens, they are not permitted to vote in Pennsylvania state and local elections. Legislatures in a majority of states—including five that neighbor Pennsylvania—have expanded the voting rights of these citizens by permitting them to vote in state and local elections. According to the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the population of these voters will continue to increase as the 3.1 million United States citizens living overseas who are under the age of 18 attain voting age. If these individuals are required to register for selective service and file taxes on their earnings, they should equally be permitted to vote in state and local elections. That is why I am introducing a bill to allow a “never resided” citizen, whose parent or guardian last domiciled in Pennsylvania, to vote in our state and local elections. It is time that we address this inequality. Since our nation began, we have fought against taxation without representation and that sentiment remains valid today. Please join me in expanding the voting rights of our “never resided” citizens by signing on to this proposal. |
Introduced as HB1937