New York Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Non-Citizens to Vote in City Elections
Earlier this year, the New York City Council passed a law allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections if they could prove legal residency within the city for at least 30 days. Monday, June 27th, the New York Supreme Court struck down this law, returning the right to vote to United States citizens only.
Former New York City Mayor De Blasio and current Mayor Adams both declined to sign or veto the bill, knowing there would be legal challenges. This codified the bill into law in December of 2021.
Fox News reported, “De Blasio had openly expressed concerns about it, recognizing that there were “big legal questions” surrounding it. He had also stated that he was worried the noncitizen residents of the city – estimated to be somewhere between 800,000 and 1 million people – would have less incentive to become citizens.”
New York voters alongside the RNC filed a lawsuit against the city council. The substance of the lawsuit argued that the “Our City, Our Vote” law violated the state’s constitution and the Municipal Home Rule Law, and would dilute American citizens’ votes.
The Fox News report states that the law violated “New York Election Law section 5-102(1), which states: ‘No person shall be qualified to register for and vote at any election unless he is a citizen of the United States.'”
Currently, there are 14 municipalities that allow individuals who reside legally in the US, but do not possess citizenship, to vote in local elections, according to Ballotpedia. New York City residents moving forward will need to possess United States citizenship to vote in state and local elections.
This is a great step forward for election integrity to ensure that every legal vote counts. Other states would be wise to follow in the footsteps of the New York Supreme Court, and that’s a phrase you won’t hear often.
