Immigrants' voting rights becoming a major issue

Houston Chronicle ^ | April 19, 2004 | KIM COBB

[seastay]

A movement is growing in New York City to grant the vote in local elections to legal immigrants. And the debate is growing loud enough to become a major issue in the city's next mayoral election.

The right to vote in a presidential election is not on the wish list: New York proponents say immigrants just want a voice on local issues ranging from sewer improvements to public school construction for everyone who pays local taxes.

A similar movement is percolating on the West Coast. Immigrant groups in San Francisco are researching how they could change state and local law to allow non-citizen parents to vote in local school board elections.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

The NYT is opposed to non-citizen voting. They say Bloomberg is also opposed to it. It'd be helpful for someone with local knowledge to look into the backgrounds of those calling for this. Start here.

[cmdrzero]

Already Takoma Park, Maryland, allows illegal aliens to vote in their local elections! Takoma Park is the same place where the lady spy was arrested recently. It's a liberal-run suburb of Washington, D.C. Kinda makes your head to want to explode.

[Paul C. Jesup]

You wouldn't be pining for one of those USSR style break-ups, would you?

It depends, a couple of those countries are doing okay, while others are literally a Hell on Earth.

[Gunslingr3]

It depends, a couple of those countries are doing okay, while others are literally a Hell on Earth.

Well, I think Florida would do ok, but California... ;)

[Paul C. Jesup]

Well, I think Florida would do ok, but California... ;)

Well, I live in Georgia US, so I guess I can relax.

[goldstategop]

You don't have to be an American to vote. Why bother having a country if every one gets to have a say here? <sarcasm

[Uncle Hal]

Officials in San Francisco talked about allowing non citizens to vote a few years ago and it died on the vine. Considering the mood in CA., where they will not allow illegals to get drivers licenses, I think the voters are in no mood to allow non citizens, legal or not, the right to vote. Also, the CA. constitution requires all voters in the state to be US citizens.