The New York Supreme Court struck down a New York City law that gave non-citizens the right to vote in local elections.
The plan would have added some 800,000 New Yorkers to the voting rolls, and would have allowed them to vote for mayor, public advocate, city council, borough presidents, and school boards.
Justice Ralph Porzio said that the law was in direct violation of the New York State Constitution.
"The New York State Constitution expressly states that citizens meeting the age and residency requirements are entitled to register and vote in elections," he said.
"Though voting is a right so many citizens take for granted, the City of New York cannot 'obviate' the restrictions imposed by the Constitution," Porzio continued, going on to say that "the weight of the citizens’ vote will be diluted by municipal voters and candidates and political parties alike will need to reconfigure their campaigns."
BREAKING: New York Supreme Court strikes down law that allowed non-citizens to votehttps://t.co/MGdt8JzOC7
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) June 27, 2022
New York Supreme Court strikes down NYC law allowing noncitizen residents to vote in city elections | Just The News https://t.co/EPoJ6ExMsq
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The Post Millennial reported.
The bill allowed non-citizens to register in political parties and vote in local elections if they hold green cards or have working visas. The only additional requirement for non-citizens is that they have been residents of New York City for a mere 30 days.
In striking down the law, Porzio said that "Though Plaintiffs have not suffered harm today, the harm they will suffer is imminent." The bill was slated to go into effect for the 2023 election year. Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio was not in favor of the measure, but agreed to sign the law anyway. Current Mayor Eric Adams was on board with the bill, saying that while the bill might not be legal, green card holders should get the vote. The idea was that because they were impacted by local leaders, and were being taxed, they should also vote, despite that being a right only for US citizens. The bill was touted by immigrant activists as necessary, because those immigrant non-citizens pay taxes and should therefore be permitted to vote.
Plaintiffs celebrated Porzio’s decision declaring it a victory against progressive policymakers.
“Today’s decision validates those of us who can read the plain English words of our state constitution and state statutes: non-citizen voting in New York is illegal, and shame on those who thought they could skirt the law for political gain,” said City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli in a statement issued shortly after the ruling was posted online.
Borelli noted there was bipartisan opposition to the law, “yet progressives chose to ignore both our constitution and public sentiment in order to suit their aims. I commend the court in recognizing reality and reminding New York’s professional protestor class that the rule of law matters.”
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