Noncitizen voting right urged

The San Diego Union Tribune ^ | December 11, 2003 | AP

[South40]

LOS ANGELES – The state Constitution should be amended so California's 4.6 million noncitizen adults can vote in local elections, a UCLA study recommended in a study released yesterday.

Nearly one-fifth of the state's adults are noncitizens and in 12 cities they form the majority, according to the study, which was commissioned by UCLA's Chicano Studies Research Center.

The study also found noncitizens make up more than one-quarter of the population in 85 California cities and 28 percent of the state's noncitizens are Hispanic.

"It's really a harbinger of things to come and unless we start to address this issue, we're going to have a political apartheid in California," said Joaquin Avila, the study's author and an instructor at UCLA law school.

The study, based on 2000 Census data, comes days after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger repealed a law that would have allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

Anti-immigration rights groups reacted angrily, saying the study undermined the legal process for naturalization and essentially sanctioned illegal immigration.

"The distinction between citizens and noncitizens has been seriously eroded over the past generations and the only difference left is the ability to vote. That's not a trivial thing," said Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C.

Avila said the proposed amendment would not mandate the vote for noncitizens, but would give local governments the latitude to allow it if they choose. Any constitutional amendment would have to go to voters.

[South40]

Look for democRATs to jump all over this and support it.

[conservativecorner]

When pigs fly!

[pgyanke]

Do you think they will beat President Bush?

[South40]

[Mike Darancette]

give local governments the latitude to allow it if they choose.

Since only local elections would be effected wouldn't it cost localities extra money to hold elections at different times or on separate ballots.

[So Cal Rocket]

Ain't never gonna happen. This will require a change to the California Constitution, which requires a vote of the people...

[puroresu]

#####Ain't never gonna happen. This will require a change to the California Constitution, which requires a vote of the people...#####


Or a 5-4 ruling written by Sandra Day O'Connor. When was the last time a major change in social policy required our consent? Abortion? Sodomy? School Prayer? Nativity Scenes? Gay Marriage?

We're now governed by dictators in black robes. Eventually, they'll discover a right for aliens to vote in the "living constitution".

[DustyMoment]

The editors of the San Diego Union Tribune need to look up the word "noncitizen" in their Funk and Wagnalls.

Then, they need to cross check it with the Constitution and the rules for voting.

There's a reason these people are called noncitizens and cannot vote.

[Tacis]

THEY ARE ILLEGAL CRIMINAL ALIENS WHO HAVE BROKEN INTO OUR COUNTRY! THEY SEND THEIR SPARE CASH TO FUND A FOREIGN NATION! THEY ARE SCABS ON THE HIDE OF AMERICA. BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIMPLY REFUSES TO PERFORM ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY AND DEFEND OUR BORDERS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ACQUIRE THE RIGHTS AND PRIVELEGES OF CITIZENSHIP. They, by and large, reject the duties and responsibilities of living here.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I'm sure a lot of them are voting already. And not just in local elections. It's not like there's any obstacle.

[SolutionsOnly]

Aren't you forgetting about the 9th Circuit Court?

Who would have though that gay marriage would be an issue even a couple years ago?

Assume nothing in this day and age!

[yatros from flatwater]

Your conclusion would be correct if the function of a citizen carried true authority. However, if government is not subject to the citizen, but the converse, then more subjects will mean more power to the rulers. Cui bono?

[quadrant]

This proposal is only the latest in a string of half-baked ideas lately put forward to expand the franchise.

One is to allow felons to vote, which is the pet project of some segments of the black community.

Now, we have a proposal from the Latino community to allow non-citizens to vote. Since this was proposed in California, its possible the amendment will pass. The state does have a reputation for wierd political deeds, especially those that can be defended on the gounds of "justice" or some other abstract idea.

However, it the CA legislature intends to pass such an amendment, I suggest it contain a proviso: a non-citizen will be allowed to vote, if non-citizens are allowed to vote in the non-citizen's country of birth.

Do you think the liberals will accept my proviso?

[DustyMoment]

Despite our disapproval of it, government is heavily dependent on individuals. When individuals act together to oppose government, governmnents, historically, crumble.

Indeed, the power is ours.

[thatdewd]

...in 12 cities they form the majority...

20 years from now the US citizens will be holed up in scattered enclaves, Balkan-style. Welcome to Aztlan.

[sasafras]

Hell lets just let the rest of the world vote in our elections too and while were at it lets let the criminals in prison vote as well, oh yeah lets also let our pets vote too. Maybe we can turn this country of ours into a complete anarchy where supreme court justices state that homsexuality, prostituiton, polygamy, heroine addicts, beastiality, incest and pornograpy is not only ok but should be encouraged. Our children need to learn about perverted sex and have abortions on demand and free speech is ok as long as it approved by the government first. We are not far from the end of the world as we know it.....

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Can Americans move to Paris and then remove Chirac from office?

[kevkrom]

THEY ARE ILLEGAL CRIMINAL ALIENS WHO HAVE BROKEN INTO OUR COUNTRY

The term "noncitizen" also applies to a large number of legal immigrants.

[BBell]

I guess if these "non-citizens" want to vote they could do it the old fashion way, become citizens first.... Naw way too hard.

[King Prout]

whoever proposed this needs to drink more tea... hemlock tea.