Why noncitizens should be allowed to vote

Bravo to New York's City Council for taking a meaningful step towards inclusion and representation.

Thursday, New York became the largest American city to give noncitizens the right to vote in local elections. The New York City Council passed the "Our City, Our Vote" measure by a more than two-to-one vote. Under the legislation, noncitizens who are legal permanent residents and have lived in the city for at least 30 days will be allowed to vote in elections for mayor, public advocate, city council, among other local offices. The legislation is set to go into effect in January 2023.

Allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections is smart policy that is legally sound. It will strengthen communities and give more residents an investment in politics that affect their daily lives. And allowing noncitizens to vote is rooted in both American tradition and ideals.

To be clear, New York's move is not about allowing undocumented people to vote. The legislation passed largely affects legal immigrants, such as green card holders, people with work permits and young people who have qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Nor does the new legislation allow noncitizens to vote in federal elections.