New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he is not in favor of a city council bill that would allow non-U.S. citizens in New York City voting rights in city elections, saying citizenship is connected to voting and that it’s a federal issue.
“I think citizenship is an achievement that connects to certain rights and privileges, including the right to vote, but I think the bigger problem is a federal one,” said de Blasio on Friday when asked about the bill introduced, reported the New York Post.
“We need comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for everyone who is here and qualified,” he added. “We need to speed up and have a federal government that wants to speed up the process for folks who are already green card holders [and get them] full citizenship.”
The bill, introduced on Thursday by city councilman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) and Immigration Chairman Carlos Menchaca, would allow non-U.S. citizens who are legal permanent residents or who have legal working papers to vote in municipal elections. Under the bill, non-U.S. citizens must have lived in New York City for at least 30 days , reported AM New York.
Dubbed “Our City, Our Vote,” the bill has a total of 30 sponsors in the New York City council which has 51 total council members. If passed, the bill will head to De Blasio’s desk where he can either sign it into law or veto it. If signed, it will give approximately 1 million non-U.S. citizens in the city a green light to vote in local elections.
“I can tell you what is un-American–denying people who pay their taxes the right to choose representatives that will voice their concerns and representatives that will determine where their money is allocated,” Rodriguez told a crowd at the city council steps on Wednesday.. “It is un-American to leave them out of that process.”
“For too long, green card holders and New Yorkers with working permits have been unable to elect their local representatives,” Rodriguez, a said, The Wall Street Journal reported. “New York City has the opportunity to show the nation that we value the contributions and the hard work immigrants bring to our city.”
New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said council lawyers are reviewing the bill further to determine if it can hold up against legal challenges, reported the Post.
