The city council here on Thursday approved a measure that will allow immigrants who are not U.S. citizens to vote for mayor and other key municipal positions. Approximately 1 million adult noncitizens live in New York City, which amounts to 20 percent of current registered voters (The Washington Post).
The measure will take effect on January 1 and will make New York the largest jurisdiction in the country to expand voting rights to non-citizens. Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement regarding New York City allowing non-citizens to vote in municipal elections: “American citizens should decide American elections — full stop,” she said. “Today’s decision in New York is the product of a radical, power-hungry Democrat Party that will stop at nothing to undermine election integrity. Allowing our elections to be decided by foreign citizens is unacceptable, and the RNC is looking closely at our legal options as we continue our fight to protect your ballot” (ABC 7).
Back in July, the New York Times published an article titled “There Is No Good Reason You Should Have to Be a Citizen to Vote,” which the author argues that citizenship should not be a prerequisite for voting (New York Times).
No reason...except the New York State Constitution. The state constitution requires that voters be citizens:
[Qualifications of voters]
Section 1. Every citizen shall be entitled to vote at every election for all officers elected by the people and upon all questions submitted to the vote of the people provided that such citizen is eighteen years of age or over and shall have been a resident of this state, and of the county, city, or village for thirty days next preceding an election. (Amended by Constitutional Convention of 1938 and approved by vote of the people November 8, 1938; further amended by vote of the people November 2, 1943; November 6, 1945; November 6, 1961; November 8, 1966; November 7, 1995.)[Registration and election laws to be passed] §5. Laws shall be made for ascertaining, by proper proofs, the citizens who shall be entitled to the right of suffrage hereby established, and for the registration of voters; which registration shall be completed at least ten days before each election. Such registration shall not be required for town and village elections except by express provision of law. (Formerly §4. Renumbered by Constitutional Convention of 1938 and approved by vote of the people November 8, 1938; amended by vote of the people November 6, 1951; further amended by vote of the people November 8, 1955; November
New York State Constitution (pdf)
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