“Our community spoke, and spoke well — 2 1/2 to 1. Given that we’re the most diverse city in northern New England, the time has come for this kind of legislation so that we have so many more voices in our democratic process. We’re at a loss if we don’t experience the full diversity of our communities and how we need to do things.”
— Rep. Hal Colston, D-Winooski and Deputy Mayor
(From the November 4, 2020 Burlington Free Press article, “Vermont election results: Winooski backs voting rights for non-citizens in local elections”)
Winooski voters chose to allow non-U.S. citizens the right to vote in municipal elections. The vote tally was 2,479 to 999 in favor of the initiative, according to unofficial results posted on the Winooski city website.
The city of Winooski, which has one of the highest contingents of New Americans and immigrants in the state, created a commission in 2019 to consider allowing residents who are non-citizens the right to vote through an amendment to its city charter.
After public information sessions and discussions of the City Council, councilors voted Aug. 18 to put the matter before voters during the general election Nov. 3.
“Our community spoke, and spoke well — 2 1/2 to 1,” said Rep. Hal Colston, D-Winooski and Deputy Mayor. “Given that we’re the most diverse city in northern New England, the time has come for this kind of legislation so that we have so many more voices in our democratic process. We’re at a loss if we don’t experience the full diversity of our communities and how we need to do things.”
Read the entire article here.