New York’s highest court weighs NYC law granting noncitizens the right to vote

The New York City Council asked the state’s highest court on Tuesday to uphold a city law that allows qualifying noncitizens to vote in its elections.

If the New York Court of Appeals rules in favor of the city, about a third of the city’s adult population would be allowed to participate in municipal elections.

“These New Yorkers pay billions in taxes and yet have no say in local policies on public safety, garbage collection or housing — all matters that affect their day-to-day lives,” the city council said in its brief.

The city passed its measure allowing noncitizen voting in 2021, allowing green-card holders and individuals with work permits who have lived in the city for at least a month to vote in municipal elections. New York City isn’t the first governmental body that has passed such a law, with the District of Columbia and Burlington, Vermont, passing similar measures