ALBANY, NY - The New York Court of Appeals on Thursday ruled against a law that sought to expand voting rights to noncitizens in local elections. The court found that the law, passed by the New York City Council, was in direct conflict with the state constitution's explicit requirement that voters be citizens of the United States.
The lawsuit challenging the law was brought by Republican officials who argued that allowing noncitizens to vote would dilute the votes of citizens and undermine the integrity of elections. Supporters of the law argued that it would enfranchise a significant portion of the city's population, particularly legal permanent residents who contribute to the community through taxes and civic engagement.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeals acknowledged the arguments on both sides but ultimately sided with the plaintiffs, stating that the constitutional language was clear and unambiguous. The decision effectively ends the effort to allow noncitizens to vote in New York City elections, at least for now. Advocates for expanding voting rights have vowed to continue their fight, potentially seeking a constitutional amendment to allow noncitizen voting in the future. The ruling has sparked debate about voting rights, citizenship, and local elections.
New York Court Rejects Noncitizen Voting Law
New York's highest court has struck down a law that would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections. The Court of Appeals ruled the law violated the state constitution. The decision upholds the requirement that voters in New York must be citizens. This ruling ends a long legal battle over voting rights in the state.