Voting: Should it be only for citizens?

A renewed effort to enfranchise immigrants swims against American public opinion on the issue. But some cities see the right to vote as a way to strengthen community commitment of residents – citizens or not.

The right to vote may seem inextricably linked to citizenship in the United States. But since America’s founding, 40 states – at different times – have allowed noncitizen voting in local, state, or federal elections; and while today it’s now illegal for noncitizens to vote at the federal and state level, more than a dozen cities...