W.Va. Senate Again Passes Citizen-Only Voting Amendment: Katherine T. Bennett in Legal Newsline
This is an issue that has growing momentum behind it.
ALEC’s Process and Procedures Task Force Director Katherine T. Bennett spoke with Legal Newsline‘s Chris Dickerson about the Only Citizen Vote amendment currently before the West Virginia legislature.
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Citizen-only voting also is an issued strongly supported by the American Legislative Exchange Council, which is the nation’s largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism.
“We have a good history of getting our policies in the hands of West Virginia legislators, who have worked hard and gotten them passed,” ALEC Process & Procedures Task Force Director Katherine T. Bennett told The West Virginia Record. “Senator Patricia Rucker, in particular, who was ALEC national chair in 2025.”
The citizen-only voting amendment is part of ALEC’s 2026 Essential Policy Solutions, which includes a section on “how to make elections safe, secure and as the Founding Fathers intended.”
Bennett said she hopes West Virginia joins more than 20 other states that have made similar moves.
“I can’t speak to what the internal politics are in the statehouse on that one, but a lot of states are adopting similar measures,” Bennett said, noting Arkansas, Kansas and South Dakota also are considering similar moves. “This is an issue that has growing momentum behind it. There is a lot of discussion behind midterm elections and making sure they’re safe and secure.”
“In general, this isn’t a controversial issue with the American people. We already bar foreign nationals from contributing to political campaigns and funding different ballot measures. It makes sense that only West Virginians get to vote in West Virginia elections.
“This is not controversial, and it should not be a partisan issue. We support efforts like this to make sure all elections are safe and secure, especially this year with such an important midterm election.”
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