Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is preparing to introduce legislation that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections and mandate a new national census that counts only American citizens. The data from that census would be used to determine how congressional seats are distributed among the states.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Greene said the forthcoming bill—titled the “Making American Elections Great Again Act”—has the full backing of President Donald Trump. “He loved it,” Greene said, after briefing him on the proposal.
Targeting Census and Voting Access
The bill, still in the drafting phase, seeks to overhaul how the U.S. determines congressional representation by excluding noncitizens from the official population count. Under current law, the U.S. Census Bureau includes all residents—regardless of immigration status—in its decennial count used for apportioning the 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
Greene argues that this approach gives states with large noncitizen populations disproportionate influence in Congress and the Electoral College.
“This is a matter of national security,” Greene said, accusing Democrats of wanting to grant voting rights to noncitizens and implement mass amnesty. “They would love for noncitizens to vote. They would love a world takeover of our country.”
Constitutional Implications
The proposal is likely to spark legal and constitutional debate. The 14th Amendment states that representation in Congress is based on “the whole number of persons in each State,” with no explicit restriction to citizens.
However, Greene and her supporters contend that legislative clarification is needed to ensure only citizens are counted for purposes that directly affect political power.
Broader Impact on Electoral Politics
If implemented, a citizen-only census could significantly reshape political representation, potentially reducing the number of congressional seats—and therefore Electoral College votes—for states with larger immigrant populations such as California, New York, and Texas. Other states with higher proportions of citizens could see their influence grow.
The legislation also comes as some Republican-led states pursue legal efforts to block the inclusion of undocumented immigrants in census counts used for political apportionment.
Trump’s Support and Party Messaging
The bill aligns with President Trump’s second-term push for tighter election laws and immigration restrictions. Rep. Greene, a vocal ally of the former president, is positioning the measure as a key pillar of that agenda.
“We must ensure only Americans are deciding America’s future,” she said.
