5/8/13, "Immigration: City Council to discuss allowing non-citizens to vote in city elections," NY Daily News, Allan Wernick
"An effort in 2004 to allow non-citizen voting in city elections failed; deciding who can vote has been seen as a power held by the state Legislature."
"On Thursday, non-citizen, immigrant voting will return to New York City’s political agenda.
The City Council Committee on Immigration and
the Committee on Government Relations will hold a joint hearing tomorrow
on non-citizen permanent resident voting in municipal elections. Council
Immigration Committee Chair Daniel Dromm is leading the Council’s
effort, along with Government Relations Committee Chair Gail Brewer.
Proponents of immigrant voting say that they have a veto-proof majority
of Council members who favor the proposal. The last major effort to
allow non-citizen voting, in 2004, failed. Proponents are hoping for a
different result this year.
Many experts question whether the Council has the authority to grant permanent residents voting rights. Deciding who, when and where individuals can vote has been seen as a power held by the New York State Legislature. But some noted authorities think that New York City can allow non-citizen voting without state action. Among them are the New York County Bar Association, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Queens College Prof. Ronald Hayduk, a leading expert on immigrant voting issues, agrees. Proponents have an uphill fight in the New York State Legislature, so if the Council votes to make non-citizen voting New York City law, the courts will likely have the last word.
New York City has a tradition of inviting immigrant voting. Until the City abolished local school boards, all New York City parents, even undocumented immigrants, could vote in school board elections. That made sense. Their children felt the most impact of Board action. They had a right to say who should serve on the school board. Now, permanent residents, who pay the same taxes as U.S. citizens, seek the same public safety and serve and die for our country, want a say in electing those who run our city. That too makes sense.
The City Council hearing on non-citizen immigrant voting is open to the public. It is scheduled for Thursday, May 9, 1:00 p.m., 250 Broadway, 14th floor hearing room. For more information on non-citizen voting, go to www.ivotenyc.org." via Lucianne
.
Many experts question whether the Council has the authority to grant permanent residents voting rights. Deciding who, when and where individuals can vote has been seen as a power held by the New York State Legislature. But some noted authorities think that New York City can allow non-citizen voting without state action. Among them are the New York County Bar Association, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Queens College Prof. Ronald Hayduk, a leading expert on immigrant voting issues, agrees. Proponents have an uphill fight in the New York State Legislature, so if the Council votes to make non-citizen voting New York City law, the courts will likely have the last word.
New York City has a tradition of inviting immigrant voting. Until the City abolished local school boards, all New York City parents, even undocumented immigrants, could vote in school board elections. That made sense. Their children felt the most impact of Board action. They had a right to say who should serve on the school board. Now, permanent residents, who pay the same taxes as U.S. citizens, seek the same public safety and serve and die for our country, want a say in electing those who run our city. That too makes sense.
The City Council hearing on non-citizen immigrant voting is open to the public. It is scheduled for Thursday, May 9, 1:00 p.m., 250 Broadway, 14th floor hearing room. For more information on non-citizen voting, go to www.ivotenyc.org." via Lucianne
.
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