FILE (Photo by Aimee Dilger / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)
WASHINGTON DC (77WABC) – The Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Vermont GOP (VTGOP) are today suing the cities of Montpelier and Winooski, Vermont over their new town charters that allow noncitizens to vote in their municipal elections. This radical scheme passed by Vermont Democrats, to allow foreign citizens to decide American elections is a blatant attack on election integrity and violates the state constitution which requires Vermont voters to be U.S. citizens.
“Democrats are trying to dismantle the integrity of our elections. In addition to attacking widely supported safeguards like voter ID, Democrats also want foreign citizens to vote in American elections. Republicans are fighting back on this far-left assault against election integrity — unlike radical Democrats, we believe that our elections should be decided solely by American citizens. This is a matter of principle and we will fight in all 50 states to ensure this remains the case.” – RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel
The RNC is joined in the suit by the Vermont Republican Party and several concerned Vermont voters. The suit also raises important concerns about how the laws will be implemented and whether non-citizens will end up on the same voter registration lists used for state-level and federal elections.
Giving non-citizens voting rights isn’t just an issue in Vermont.
Last week, the New York City council held a hearing on a bill that would allow nearly a million non-citizens with green cards or work permits to vote in city elections. The bill has the backing of immigrant groups and a majority of the council but faces skepticism from the de Blasio administration.
“We need to recognize the contributions of our immigrant brothers and sisters,” said Manhattan Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, a main sponsor of the bill. “This is not about doing a favor to immigrants by allowing them to vote. If they pay their taxes, as I did when I had my green card, then they should have a right to elect their local leaders.”
The bill would allow lawful permanent residents or persons authorized to work in the U.S. who have lived in New York City for at least 30 consecutive days to vote in municipal elections.
This includes elections for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president, council member, and any city ballot initiative. Non-citizens would not be authorized to vote in state or federal elections.
