Bill · S.J.Res. 212· Senate(119-SJRES-212)
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to ensure that only citizens are eligible to vote in Federal elections.
- Introduced
- 8/7/2026
- Last activity
- 8/7/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Eric Schmitt
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The amendment aims to ensure that only citizens are eligible to vote in Federal elections. This includes primary or other elections for President, Vice President, electors, Senators, or Representatives. State legislatures would be responsible for prescribing legislation to enforce this article. Additionally, Congress would have the power to make or alter regulations and enforce the article for the District of Columbia.
Yes
Does this make elections run better?+5
The bill aims to clarify and standardize the eligibility criteria for federal elections to include only citizens.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?+4
The bill delegates the responsibility of prescribing enforcement legislation to individual state legislatures.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill grants Congress explicit power to regulate and enforce voting rules for the District of Columbia.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Would immigrants be better off under this?-5
The bill creates more stringent eligibility barriers that may negatively impact non-citizen immigrant populations.
Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice?-3
The bill may restrict voting access for certain groups by requiring strict citizenship proof for federal elections.
Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens?-2
By focusing on citizen-only voting, it does not provide pathways to citizenship but rather emphasizes the boundary of citizenship.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Ensures voting eligibility is limited to citizens: According to Section 1, the amendment would restrict the qualification to vote in any primary or other election for President, Vice President, electors, Senator, or Representative in Congress to only citizens of the United States.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- State-specific enforcement variations: Section 2 states that appropriate legislation to enforce the article shall be prescribed in each State by the legislature thereof, which could result in different enforcement methods across the country.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Electoral Process+5Increase States Rights+4Increases Federal Power+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Immigrants-5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Voting Access-3Improves Pathway To Citizenship-2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Increases Domestic Surveillance-2
- 9/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/7/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas
Ashley MoodyRepublican · Florida