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Hundreds of thousands of noncitizens may soon be able to vote in municipal elections in New York City, though Mayor Bill de Blasio and his successor, Eric Adams, contend they have opposing views.
The bill would add a new chapter to the city charter that would enable green card holders and those with work permission to register to vote and participate in citywide elections by creating a separate municipal voter registration system. When Adams ran for mayor earlier this year, he was a supporter of the idea.
According to the Daily News, Adams said in February:
“We cannot be a beacon to the world and continue to attract the global talent, energy and entrepreneurship that has allowed our city to thrive for centuries if we do not give immigrants a vote in how this city is run and what our priorities are for the future.”
DeBlasio, meanwhile, has said he doesn’t support the idea. On a radio show in September, he said “One, I don’t believe it is legal. Our law department is very clear on this. I really believe this has to be decided at the state level, according to state law.”
DeBlasio also pointed out that non-citizen voting would undermine efforts to get people to become citizens.
Neither politician addressed the fact that one of the primary privileges of citizenship, the right to vote, would be hurt by allowing citizen votes to be diluted with the votes of non-citizens.
The Trends Journal reported previously on non-citizen voting movements around the country in “NON-CITIZEN VOTING COMING TO A STATE NEAR YOU” (12 Oct 2021).