Critics are slamming the New York City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio for committing to pass a law that will give about 800,000 non-citizens the right to vote in local elections starting in 2023.
Some state Republicans have vowed to 'use every legal method' to block the proposal, which they say 'devalues citizenship' by allowing non-citizens to vote in city races after just 30 days of living in the Big Apple.
The City Council is scheduled to vote on the plan, dubbed 'Our City, Our Vote,' this Thursday and Mayor Bill de Blasio said he is concerned about the legality of the plan, but won't veto it.
Nearly one in nine of the city's 7 million voting-age residents are considered among the non-citizens that will be granted voting rights under the law. This includes those authorized to work in the U.S. through programs such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or Temporary Protected Status.
The New York City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio are poised to pass a law that will give about 800,000 non-citizens the right to vote in local elections
Nearly one in nine of the city's 7 million voting-age residents are considered among the non-citizens that will be granted voting rights under the law
Noncitizens must be living legally in NYC for at least 30 days or be authorized to work through programs like DACA or TPS
Some state Republicans have vowed to 'use every legal method' to block the proposal, which will go into effect starting in 2023. Above, City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli, a Republican from Staten Island, and State Republican Committee Chairman Nick Langworthy vowed to fight the law's passage at a news conference outside of City Hall last week
The law does not include undocumented immigrants or people with temporary visas, however.
Qualifying noncitizens would be allowed to cast ballots in elections to pick the mayor, City Council members, borough presidents, comptroller and public advocates. They would still be barred from voting for U.S. president, members of federal Congress, state judges and state legislators.
The law would direct the Board of Elections to draft an implementation plan by July, which includes voter registration rules and guidance for how noncitizens could register. It would also mandate that the Board of Elections create separate ballots for municipal races that prevent noncitizens from casting ballots in federal and state contests.
City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli, a Republican from Staten Island, and State Republican Committee Chairman Nick Langworthy vowed to fight the law's passage.
'It devalues citizenship, and citizenship is the standard by which the state constitution issues or allows for suffrage in New York state elections at all levels,' Borelli said.
'If they want to vote here, they should go through the process of becoming citizens, because that is how you show a real commitment to being a part of this city and this country,' he added at a news conference held last week outside of City Hall alongside Langworthy and a number of other critics of the plan.
'The stakes are too high, the problems we face in
