“We know that it takes a long time to become a citizen, so we want to make sure that while people are living here, working here, running small businesses, paying taxes in the meantime, that they have the ability to shape local issues.”

— Nora Moran, director of policy and advocacy at United Neighborhood Houses

(From the December 9, 2021, Bloomberg article, “New York City Expands Voting Rights to Noncitizens”)

New York City has approved a measure that allows noncitizens to participate in local elections, expanding rights for about 800,000 residents at a time when other parts of the country are making it harder to vote. The legislation applies to legal permanent residents and those authorized to work in the U.S., a fraction of the 3 million immigrants living in the city.

The City Council voted 33 to 14, with two abstentions, in favor of the legislation. Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he would let the bill go into law, though he has reservations. Mayor-elect Eric Adams has voiced support for the proposal.

Read the entire article here.