NEW JERSEY – Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) Thursday introduced a resolution to express support for the federal “Equal Representation Act,” which would modify the apportionment of United States Representatives, as well as electoral college votes, to be based on the population of United States citizens.
“Appropriating representatives to the United States Congress based on citizenship is the only formula that allows for accurate representation in our federal government,” said Pennacchio. “It is imperative that the right of each American citizen to receive equal representation in government is protected from dilution.”
More than 10 million people have illegally entered the United States under the tenure of President Biden, which according to current estimates, has increased the total population of illegal immigrants in the United States to more than 20 million people, and the total population of noncitizens to more than 30 million, Pennacchio said.
“The noncitizen population is so large that if they were all located in one state, it would be apportioned 40 congressional districts and 42 electoral votes in presidential elections. In no world does that echo the sentiment of equal representation,” Pennacchio said.
The United States House of Representatives introduced H.R. 7109, known as the “Equal Representation Act,” on January 29, 2024 and passed the bill on May 8, 2024. Enactment of the bill would ensure that the allocation of congressional seats and electoral votes among the states would be apportioned based on the United States citizen population and would not be diluted by the country’s noncitizen population, said Pennacchio.
Additionally, Senator Pennacchio has introduced companion legislation that would protect the process of redistricting New Jersey’s legislative seats by only counting New Jersey citizens during that process.
