Vermont Supreme Court rules Montpelier can allow noncitizen voting in local elections

[RandySF]

The Vermont Supreme Court issued a decision Friday in favor of Montpelier allowing noncitizens to vote in its local elections.

The court ruled that the 2018 city charter change does not violate the Vermont Constitution, which does restrict voting in statewide contests to citizens.

Montpelier City Council President Jack McCullough told VTDigger that the initiative began when town residents noticed that it was “not fair” that some noncitizen residents who paid taxes and participated in the community “were not allowed to vote on on the local elections and the local issues that affected their lives.”

About 11,000 Vermonters are not United States citizens, according to the Census. The charter change required noncitizens to be legal residents of the U.S. in order to be eligible to vote.



https://vtdigger.org/2023/01/20/vermont-supreme-court-rules-montpelier-can-allow-noncitizen-voting-in-local-elections/

[DFW]

1. It's the same in Germany where I live

I am allowed to vote for mayor in the town where I live. I choose not to, since I have no intention of pursuing German citizenship, and cannot truthfully state that my residence will be permanent, but they do grant me the option.