Felons. Sixteen-year-olds. Noncitizens.

Let ’em all vote.

Serial killers? Slip them a ballot, too.

We’re literally giving away votes.

The Democratic-controlled House, driven by partisan zeal, is going to ridiculous lengths to increase its political power by opening up the right to vote to just about any living, breathing human — as long as they vote Democrat.

The latest display came on a meaningless Republican resolution with a pretty simple goal — embarrass Democrats into rejecting this language: “It is the sense of Congress that allowing illegal immigrants the right to vote devalues the franchise and diminishes the voting power of United States Citizens.”

And it worked. Democrats, reacting to the political gamesmanship, rejected the resolution even though federal law already bans illegal immigrants and all noncitizens from voting in federal elections.

The 228-197 tally came with all nine Massachusetts Democrats voting against the maneuver.

But here’s the problem: When an almost identical resolution was introduced last September, only three Massachusetts Democrats, Seth Moulton, Jim McGovern and Niki Tsongas, voted no. One Bay State Democrat, Rep. Stephen Lynch, even supported the resolution. Four lawmakers — William Keating, Joe Kennedy III, Katherine Clark and Richard Neal, in a display of political courage, voted “present.” Rep. Michael Capuano didn’t even vote.

So what happened over the last six months?

Well, Democrats and Nancy Pelosi regained control over the House. That’s what happened. And if it’s one thing Pelosi won’t stand, it’s any opposition to her party’s position.

So Lynch flipped, and the rest of the delegation fell in line, rejecting the meaningless resolution. And now they are all on record supporting the right of illegal immigrants to cast ballots.

All told, 41 Democrats who last September supported the resolution condemning allowing illegal immigrants to vote, flip-flopped on Friday, rejecting the same language they supported six months ago.

This of course makes no sense, but it is how Washington works these days.

Democrats in the House will do anything they can to stick together and grow their ranks, even if that means opening up the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds, convicts and noncitizens. And Republicans will try to introduce frivolous resolutions to get their votes on the record.

All of it means absolutely nothing to the average voter, who cares more about getting a decent paycheck than playing political games.

But it’s what we can expect out of Congress for the next two years. So get used to it.

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(c)2019 the Boston Herald

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