There are several rights and privileges granted only to U.S. citizens under federal law. One of the most notable is the right to vote in federal elections. Only U.S. citizens can cast ballots for candidates running for federal offices, such as President, Vice President, U.S. Senators, and U.S. Representatives. Non-citizens, including legal permanent residents, those with work visas, students, tourists, and undocumented immigrants cannot legally vote in elections for federal office. Voting is considered a fundamental civic duty and privilege reserved only for full U.S. citizens.
Summary of Key Points
- U.S. citizenship grants the right to vote in federal elections
- Non-citizens cannot legally vote, even if they are legal permanent residents
- Voting is considered a core civic right and duty reserved for citizens
- Other rights limited to citizens include serving on a jury and running for federal office
- Citizenship confers full membership in the national political community
The Importance of Voting Rights for Citizens
Voting rights hold great significance in any democracy. The ability to vote allows citizens to have a direct say in who represents them at the highest levels of government and what policies those leaders pursue. Throughout American history, voting has been tied closely to the concept of citizenship and full inclusion in political life.
Over time, the right to vote was extended beyond just property-owning white men through amendments and civil rights laws. Today, preventing any U.S. citizen from voting on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, or wealth is illegal. The protections around voting for citizens highlight its perceived value as a cornerstone of democratic society.
Why Voting is Limited to Citizens
There are several reasons why the right to vote is reserved only for citizens:
- Citizens have declared permanent allegiance to the United States
- Citizens have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution
- Non-citizens may lack sufficient knowledge or ties to make informed decisions
- Citizens have full membership in the political community
- Voting is intertwined with citizenship and national identity
Upon naturalizing, citizens pledge loyalty to the U.S., its laws, and democratic values. Therefore, they are trusted with the enormous responsibility of selecting leaders for the nation. Non-citizens have not made this commitment, so excluding them from voting reinforces its linkage to citizenship.
There are also logistical reasons. Non-citizens may lack enough familiarity with the U.S. political system, laws, history, and candidates to cast meaningful votes. Permitting non-citizens to vote could water down the votes of citizens.
Overall, voting remains tied to citizenship and having a stake in the future of the country. Amending laws to allow non-citizens to participate in federal elections would require untangling this ingrained link.
State and Local Voting by Non-Citizens
While federal law prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections, a few municipalities allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, like races for mayor, city council, or school board. These local policies let non-citizens who live in the community permanently, like green card holders, have a voice.
However, only a tiny number of jurisdictions have opted to grant voting rights for local elections to non-citizens. This remains extremely rare across the U.S. No states currently allow non-citizens to vote in state-level elections.
So even as a few municipalities break the linkage between citizenship and voting, federal and nearly all state and local laws continue to restrict voting to citizens. Voting in federal elections remains an exclusive right and duty of citizenship.
Other Rights Reserved for Citizens
Beyond voting rights, a few other rights and privileges are constitutionally or statutorily limited to U.S. citizens.
Serving on a Jury
Citizenship is a requirement for federal jury service under 28 U.S.C. § 1865. The law specifies that citizens over 18 years old who have resided in the judicial district for at least one year can be summoned to serve. Non-citizens are excluded from federal jury duty.
The rationale is that jurors wield real power over the judicial process and outcomes. Serving on federal juries allows citizens to directly participate in the justice system. It is considered a form of civic duty, like voting.
While states set their own juror eligibility rules, most also limit state court juries only to citizens. Doing so upholds the tradition of juries being comprised of members from the political community.
Running for Federal Elected Office
The U.S. Constitution sets citizenship requirements for serving in Congress or as President. Only natural born U.S. citizens can run for President under Article II, Section 1. For Congress, Senators and Representatives must be U.S. citizens for at least 9 and 7 years, respectively, when elected.
These rules mean non-citizens cannot seek election to federal offices, even if they are legal permanent residents. Holding these influential offices is reserved for full citizens who have developed ties and commitment to the U.S. over many years.
However, the Constitution does not mandate citizenship requirements for state or local elected officials. So non-citizens can and do legally hold elected positions at the state, county, and city levels in certain jurisdictions.
Other Citizenship-Based Rights and Benefits
There are various other rights, duties, and benefits reserved for citizens:
- Applying for a U.S. passport
- Receiving consular services and protections abroad
- Sponsoring foreign immediate relatives for green cards
- Qualifying for federal grants, loans, and scholarships
- Traveling with U.S. proof of citizenship rather than a visa
So while voting in federal elections stands as the most prominent political right exclusive to citizens, citizenship confers many other legal and practical advantages.
The Symbolic Value of Citizen Voting Rights
Beyond the tangible privileges citizens enjoy, the right to vote holds immense intangible value. Voting represents:
- A rite of passage and badge of honor as a fully equal member of society
- The ability to shape the country’s future direction by choosing leaders
- Inclusion in the national political community and family
- A sense of agency and empowerment
For many immigrants, gaining voting rights is a highly anticipated milestone that cements their transition to Americans. It confirms they have an equal stake and voice.
The exclusivity of voting also heightens its worth as a coveted benefit of citizenship. Prospective citizens often eagerly await finally attaining the ability to vote after many years of building lives in the U.S.
So while non-citizens may pay taxes and enrich the country in many ways, being unable to vote identifies them as something less than full Americans. It keeps them at the margins of the political community with limited voice. This symbolic value further motivates retaining voting as an exclusive citizenship right.
Conclusion
Voting for federal office stands as a core right and duty reserved only for natural born or naturalized U.S. citizens. Non-citizens remain excluded from participating in elections for President, Congress, and other national offices. While regulations differ in the minority of jurisdictions that enable non-citizens to vote locally, federal laws continue to link voting eligibility tightly with citizenship.
Denying non-citizens the ability to vote reflects the special status of citizens as full members of society. It motivates immigrants to naturalize and serves as both an engine and symbolic reward of the integration process. Voting confers both instrumental power and intangible belonging.
The franchise remains a prized benefit of citizenship that signals an immigrant’s transition from outsider to equal stakeholder. As such, voting for federal office seems destined to remain an exclusive privilege of membership in the American political community. It solidifies citizens as national insiders in ways non-citizens will continue to be denied.