Voting rights for non-citizens

Voting rights for non-citizens

http://www.hardbeatnews.com/editor/RTE/ ... ewsid=6238

http://www.immigrantvoting.org/

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VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION ACT REINTRODUCTION


New York City Council Members Charles Barron and Kendall Stewart, along with several of their colleagues, will re-introduce the historic Voting Rights Restoration Act on April 5, 2006. This landmark piece of civil rights and government reform legislation would allow noncitizen residents 18 years of age or older to vote in New York City elections if they have been lawfully present for six months.

More than one million tax-paying New Yorkers have been disenfranchised in their local community because of their citizenship status. At least 15% of the residents of most New York City Council districts are non-citizens, with that percentage above 35% in the populations of several districts.

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/66551.htm

LET US VOTE: ALIENS
By FRANKIE EDOZIEN

April 5, 2006 -- A push to give Big Apple residents who aren't citizens the right to vote kicks off today, with throngs of immigrants flocking to City Hall to back legislation giving them access to the ballot box.

The Voting Rights Restoration Act would allow permanent residents, or "green card" holders, who have lived in the city for more than six months to vote in local elections.

"We have a large number of people who are documented and pay taxes, but can't vote," said Councilman Kendall Stewart (D-Manhattan), chairman of the council's Immigration Committee and a prime sponsor of the bill.

But Councilman James Oddo (R-S.I), who opposes the bill, called it "an affront on hardworking Americans."

"I think we should have a vote on it and see which council members are willing to put their names on it," he said.

In Maryland, six cities permit noncitizen voting, and in Chicago, permanent residents can vote in school-board elections.

Immigrant activists said the United States has a long history of allowing noncitizens to vote.

At one time in the 1800s and 1900s, 22 states and federal territories allowed noncitizens to vote, although women and blacks were disenfranchised.

"When the complexions of immigration changed, the policies changed," said Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), another sponsor of the bill.

"We're representing 1.3 million legal residents who can pay taxes and go to war for this country."

Barron said that while people of color would be the biggest beneficiaries, recent European immigrants would reap the rewards, too.

"Many Russian and Polish immigrants would be allowed to vote, but surely, more people of color will benefit and we will see the power structure change," he said.

Politically, such a move could change the complexion of the city, likely adding substantial numbers of Democratic voters to the rolls.

Mayor Bloomberg has opposed noncitizen voting and prefers to use the power of his office to encourage immigrants to become naturalized.

Last year, his aides said such measures run afoul of the state Constitution and would have to be changed by referendum.

State law forbids the voter registration of noncitizens.

frankie.edozien@nypost.com

:x You've got to be kidding me! Granting a vote to illegal immigrants would be disasterious.

Butterbean, I am FURIOUS! Insanity, pure insanity!!!
I heard Edy Hill talking about it on Fox this morning. She said, and this is quote "Why not just let the whole world vote" . This would set presidence for other states to do the same. We need to dig up as much info as we can on this and make sure it gets out to American Public.

I suggest everyone check the legislative site of your states and look to see if your state traitors are trying to sneak this in on you! If so, get the word out! I am going to check Alabamas legislative site now. :evil:

I knew this was coming. Politicians want those tens of millions of new votes and they will stab Americans in the back to get it.

Why in the world are we electing people to office, that have not been born here, and came within just a few years of being elected?

These foreign born officials, have no idea how long time American's feel about their country....they just want everyone of their own race to come here...PERIOD!