New York Democrats are making an inexplicable move to give non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections.
The New York City Council will vote on December 9 whether a law to allow green-card holders and residents with work permits powers to vote in municipal elections despite concerns that such a move is illegal.
Under the proposed legislation, around 808,000 NYC residents would be eligible to vote in the local elections.
And it looks like nothing can stop the bill from moving forward because it has the support of 34 of 51 council members.
This would give the sponsors of the bill a veto-proof majority. If the current mayor, who is against the measure, or the mayor-elect who seems in favor of the bill, tried to block it they would be overruled.
“It’s important for the Democratic Party to look at New York City and see that when voting rights are being attacked, we are expanding voter participation,” Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez said. Rodriguez immigrated from the Dominican Republic and became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would veto the bill if passed.
“We’ve done everything that we could possibly get our hands on to help immigrant New Yorkers, including undocumented folks, but I don’t believe it is legal,” de Blasio said in September.
The incoming Mayor is singing a different tune, not that it matters because the bill may have a veto-proof majority.
Mayor-elect Eric Adams said: “In a democracy, nothing is more fundamental than the right to vote and to say who represents you and your community in elected office.”
“Currently, almost one million New Yorkers are denied this foundational right.”
New York City Dems Push Law to Allow 800,000 Non-Citizens to Vote in Municipal Elections https://t.co/02FcD8R5U4
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) November 24, 2021
New York City Considering to Allow 800,000 Non-Citizens to Vote in Municipal Electionshttps://t.co/qrU1XkRBnY
— Trish Regan (@trish_regan) November 24, 2021
New York City Dems Push Law to Allow 800,000 Non-Citizens to Vote in Municipal Elections https://t.co/LNh2eQ72Uf
— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) November 24, 2021
