Bill Would Let Noncitizens Vote

[las47032]

Immigrant-rights activists yesterday renewed their push to allow legal noncitizens to vote in the Big Apple.

A bill that would grant permanent residents and other legal immigrants the right to vote in municipal elections has been stalled in the City Council since last year.

"More than 50,000 adult noncitizen taxpayers in those two districts are disenfranchised by citizenship voting laws," said Cheryl Wertz, of New Immigrant Community Empowerment, referring to today's special election for council seats in Brooklyn and Staten Island.

Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), the sponsor of the Voting Rights Restoration Act, said that years ago, when immigrants were mostly European, they had voting rights.

"Then when the complexion of immigrants changes, then all of a sudden, the laws change," he said.
Ron Hayduk, a CUNY professor, concurred, saying immigrants voted in national elections from 1776 through 1926.

Source: LET ALIENS VOTE: ACTIVISTS By FRANKIE EDOZIEN - Regionalnews - New York Post Online Edition

[Chrisj]

As long as they pay their taxes whats the problem, I understand 'No Taxation Without Representation' was one of the issues that brought about the American War of Independance. Now if they didn't contribute to the financial support of the region in which they lived that would be another matter. In the UK as far as I am aware if you have a postal address and register with the council you are put on the electoral register if your 18 or will be by the time of the next election. There is no qualification to be a tax payer.

[leobold1]

This was a given long ago, that this would be tried.

Its been predicted by many that the reason the Dems were against things like the Wall and the Minutemen were because they saw the illegals as their next base group of voters.

"We'll get you in, let you stay, you pay us back by getting and keeping us in power."

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by Chrisj

As long as they pay their taxes whats the problem, I understand 'No Taxation Without Representation' was one of the issues that brought about the American War of Independance. Now if they didn't contribute to the financial support of the region in which they lived that would be another matter. In the UK as far as I am aware if you have a postal address and register with the council you are put on the electoral register if your 18 or will be by the time of the next election. There is no qualification to be a tax payer.

One of the rights of a citizen is voting and non-citizens should have no say (through a vote) in how things are run in a city, country, state, or country.

Originally Posted by leobold1

This was a given long ago, that this would be tried.

Its been predicted by many that the reason the Dems were against things like the Wall and the Minutemen were because they saw the illegals as their next base group of voters.

"We'll get you in, let you stay, you pay us back by getting and keeping us in power."

Sure it was a given. What better way to get votes than pander to illegals?

[Scrappy]

what the heck? we need to start lining people up at the border and putting a chip in them, all the govt want's is money therefore, you'll get the rights of a citizen, paying your dues...

Bull****. You weren't born here, you haven't assimilated, much less passed the legal requirements for naturalization. You have no vested intrest in the community, much less the country. Why are people so thick headed? I want americans voting, not mexican, not canadians, not pakistanis, not ... grrrr. This is an issue that must be absolute. If you haven't done the time, I don't care how much it cost you, either you're a citizen or not.

[herbstin]

Voting is one of the rights of a citizen. If you extend that right to anyone, we'll wind up being dictated to by a flood of immigrants (legal and illegal) dispatched by powers who oppose the US, with the express intent of undermining our society through the polls. We are already under siege by forces using the UN, the media, and the stupidity of our left.

Only a booger-eating moron or a liberal left-wing dufuscrat politician could possibly think this is a good idea.

[m60-gunner]

Scrappy and Herbstin hit it right on the mark. We have to keep some kind of values. If your not a citizen, then you have very few if any rights here. Being a American is a great gift. Along with it comes alot of responsabialty. If you are unwilling to assemiclate to our country then get the hell out.