Bucking Anti-Immigrant Trend, Some Communities Push for Non-Citizen Voting

[babylonsister]

Bucking Anti-Immigrant Trend, Some Communities Push for Non-Citizen Voting
Advocates Argue Legal Taxpaying Residents Should Have the Vote
By Elise Foley 10/22/10 6:00 AM


Legal immigrants will be allowed to vote in city elections in Portland, Maine if a ballot initiative passes Nov. 2. (iStock photo)


Last Wednesday, a group of progressive volunteers gathered in Monument Square in Portland, Maine, to quiz passersby about citizenship. Could they answer sample civics questions from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services test to become an American citizen? (Most couldn’t.) Did they know how much it costs to become a citizen or how long it can take? (Most estimates were too low.) Did they know about Question 4 on the Portland, Maine, city ballot Nov. 2?

In a city where legal immigrants make up about 15 percent of the population, the progressive groups Maine People’s Alliance and the League of Young Voters are working to encourage voters to extend voting rights to legal immigrants who have not yet become citizens. They argue these residents live, work and pay taxes in the city, but due to the difficulty of obtaining citizenship are unfairly denied the right to determine how the city spends its funds.

“Legal immigrants are active members of the community and shouldn’t be denied a voice because of these major barriers,” said Reva Eiferman, an organizer with Maine People’s Alliance. “There’s a disconnect between the citizenship process within the immigration system and an individual’s right to have their voice heard in their city.”

As cities and states across the country consider legislation aimed at limiting the flow of outsiders to their areas, a few municipalities are moving in the opposite direction, pushing to expand the rights of immigrants living within their borders. In Portland, Question 4 would allow legal immigrants to vote in municipal elections. A ballot proposition in San Francisco aims to take voting one step further, allowing even illegal immigrants to vote in school elections as long as they are the parents of a public school student. In New York, city council members plan to introduce legislation allowing legal residents to vote in city elections within the next few months.

These efforts show that while anti-immigrant sentiment is prevalent, it’s not universal, supporters argue.

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http://washingtonindependent.com/101358/bucking-anti-immigrant-trend-some-communities-push-for-non-citizen-voting

[Pab Sungenis]

1. I'm sorry, this is just wrong.

Voting is something that needs to be reserved for citizens.

[BootinUp]

2. +1

[babylonsister]

3. So maybe the path to citizenship needs to be made easier,

not more difficult.

[Pab Sungenis]

4. I won't argue with that.

It's just that I believe the franchise needs to stay with American Citizens.