Senator Ashley Moody has introduced the Equal Representation Act, a bill that seeks to change how congressional districts are apportioned by excluding non-citizens from the population count. According to a press release from her office, Moody is working with several Republican senators to ensure that only legal residents are included when determining representation between states.
Under current law, all residents, regardless of immigration status, are counted for congressional districting and Electoral College purposes. Supporters of the proposed legislation argue that this method gives states with larger undocumented populations greater political representation. The bill would require a citizenship question on future censuses to distinguish between citizens and non-citizens.
If enacted, the measure would direct the U.S. Census Bureau to adjust its data collection methods and prohibit the inclusion of non-citizens in congressional apportionment. Co-sponsors of the bill include Senators Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Roger Marshall of Kansas. The proposal has prompted discussion about how representation should be determined in the United States and its potential effects on future elections.
