WASHINGTON, D.C.- According to a report from Fox News, on Friday, December 10th, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) announced a bill that would withhold funding from cities in the United States that allow non-citizens to vote.
Noncitizens in New York City would gain the right to vote in municipal elections under a measure approved Thursday by the City Council. https://t.co/qIWqh1mw4L
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 12, 2021
The bill is in a direct response to a decision from the New York City Council, who as of Thursday, December 9th, opened voting to their hundreds of thousands of residents without U.S. citizenship. Rubio said in a statement:
“No city which allows non-U.S. citizens to vote should receive U.S. government funds. Next week, I am going to file a bill to make that the law.”
The measure will allow nearly 800,000 legal non-citizens in the metropolis to vote in municipal elections. The legislation does not allow lawful permanent residents or people with authorization to work who aren’t citizens to participate in federal or state elections.
The New York City Council voted 33-14 to extend the franchise for municipal elections to lawful permanent residents who reside in the five boroughs and who have resided in the city for at least 30 consecutive days.
In response, the New York State Republican Party vowed it would take legal action if necessary to stop the measure. Party chairman Nick Langworthy said in a statement:
“We pledge action, legal or otherwise, any means necessary to stop this dangerous legislation from undermining our elections.”
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio stated that he will not veto the bill even though he expressed reservations. Without his signature, the measure would become law in 30 days. de Blasio leaves office on January 1st and his successor, Eric Adams, supports non-citizen voting.
Democrat-Run Cities With Soros-Backed DAs Are Watching Crime Spiral Out Control. New York City Council Member https://t.co/dlmVidK1Ev
— thepn.org (@thepn_org) December 13, 2021
The bill’s sponsor, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Upper Manhattan), said in a statement during a rally outside City Hall ahead of the vote:
“In 2021, we are writing another chapter. New York City is showing another way to do business when it comes to expanding voting rights.”
In a separate statement to the Post, he added:
“We will make our city stronger. We will have more people participating in our electoral process. We will have even more people to me motivated to be citizens because after they participate at the local level, they will be more interested in and engaged and highly motivated to be a citizen so now they can vote at the federal level.”
The Big Apple will join abut 14 other U.S. cities, including San Francisco in allowing non-citizens to cast ballots in municipal elections. In the Council Chambers, Speaker Corey Johnson, who is also term-limited out of office on December 31st, said:
“Our city will become the largest municipality in the nation that will allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. New York has been built by immigrants and we are what we are because of them.”
Opponents blasted the “dangerous legislation,” vowing to take it to court. Councilman Mark Gjonaj, a Democrat who represents parts of the Bronx, proposed a “motion to recommit” that would have sent it back to the government operation committee, which could change the bill before a vote.
The lawmaker argued that the 30-day minimum residency in New York City should be extended to a least a year because it would permit “transients” to head to the polls. While noting that his parents immigrated to the U.S. from Albania, he added:
“Irresponsible would be rubber stamping. Irresponsible would be voting on a bill that you’re not completely informed about.”
A new bill passed by the New York City Council this week will allow city residents who are not U.S. citizens to vote in certain local elections. https://t.co/kGBFNxScCY
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) December 12, 2021
Gjonaj also argued that the legislation would allow enemies out of the country like Russia and China to influence local elections. He said:
“This bill in its current form doesn’t protect New York City; it makes it vulnerable to outside influence. This bill makes the crown jewel of the country vulnerable. It doesn’t take much to … figure out how dangerous this bill is for the future of New York City. This bill … is a threat to our sovereignty.”
City Council Minority Leader Joe Borrelli (R-Staten Island) said that the measure is “incorrect and illegal” and “devalues” votes of adult citizen New Yorkers. He added:
“It devalues the votes of 5.6 million current New Yorkers. If we have people registered to vote that are allowed to vote per the state constitution and if we add people who are specifically prohibited to vote per the state constitution, we water down the votes of the 5.6 million people.”
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Democrats ready to give voting rights to more than 800,000 non-citizens in police-defunded New York City
November 24th, 2021
NEW YORK, NY – There have been rumors circulating in different parts of the country that elected Democrat officials wanted to provide non-US citizens the ability to vote in local elections.
It has actually happened in some places on small scales. But it is now going to happen to the largest US city, and it is closer to reality than many Americans would like.
BREAKING: NYC Moves to Allow 800k Noncitizens Vote in Local Elections: “The legislation, expected to be approved by City Council on 12/9 by a veto-proof margin, comes as U.S. is dealing with…new laws to impose voter restrictions.” #OurCItyOurVote https://t.co/YZBpVEaX6e
— New York Immigration Coalition (@thenyic) November 23, 2021
According to the New York Times, the “Our City, Our Vote” bill is expected to be approved by the New York City Council on December 9th by a veto-proof margin.
The legislative act, titled NYC Council Int.1867, would “permit lawfully present residents and those with work authorizations to vote in municipal elections such as races for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president, and city council, as well as ballot referendum.”
Read that again.
The elections of numerous public offices as well legislative acts that make their way to the ballot could be decided by nearly 1 million people (808,000), who are legally working or going to school in New York City, but have not become naturalized citizens of this country.
As long as they hold valid green cards or other residency visas and permits, they will be allowed to vote.
According to the Our City, Our Vote website:
“Our City, Our Vote supports legislation that expands democracy in New York City so green card holders and those authorized to work in the United States can vote in elections for city-level offices as long as they have been a resident of New York City for at least 30 days and are otherwise qualified to register and vote under New York State election law.”
Since they pointed us to it, we decided to take a look at the New York State election laws.
Here is what we found.
Under the Qualifications to Register to Vote section are 6 bullet point qualifiers. To be able to register to vote in the state of New York, you must:
“be a United States citizen; be 18 years old (you may pre-register at 16 or 17 but cannot vote until you are 18); resident of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election; not be in prison for a felony conviction; not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court, and; not claim the right to vote elsewhere.”
Huh, the very first thing that is a disqualifier to vote in the state of New York is being a citizen of the United States.
But the folks at Our City, Our Vote want to make sure you can vote in spite of your citizenship status.
Let’s recap.
The State of New York election law says you have to be a US citizen to be able to vote. Period.
The New York City Council says that you have to meet the requirements to vote as set by the State of New York election law.
Yet they still want to make sure that people ineligible to cast votes are able to do exactly that.
So, in essence, the City Council is about to pass a city ordinance allowing close to 1 million people to illegally cast votes in local elections in the nation’s largest city.
So, what is really driving this push to count know illegal ballots?
“It’s important for the Democratic Party to look at New York City and see that when voting rights are being attacked, we are expanding voter participation,” said Ydanis Rodriguez, a councilman who sponsored the bill and represents Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan.
Join us today at City Hall Park @12PM for a rally supporting the Municipal Voting Rights Bill #OurCityOurBill! It’s long past the time we allowed our immigrant brothers and sisters to participate in our local elections. pic.twitter.com/xbZJpqjDm4
— Ydanis Rodriguez (@ydanis) November 23, 2021
One could wonder how it is possible to violate the voting rights of someone who does not have the right to vote.
But the Councilman nailed the issue on the head…Democrats want more voters. Whether they are legal or illegal appears to be irrelevant.
Even the progressive outgoing mayor Bill de Blasio has questioned the legality of this measure. That is why council democrats have banded together to create a veto-proof two-thirds majority.
Mayor-elect Eric Adams, who many have applauded for his push to re-fund the NYPD, supports this measure. He believes that green card holders should be able to vote in local elections.
According to the Times article:
“If the legislation passes as expected, the New York City Board of Elections would issue a separate voter registration form for green card holders and other noncitizens who have the right to work.
At the polls, those voters would fill out a ballot that only has New York City offices on it. The legislation calls for training poll workers and community education campaigns to ensure every voter receives the correct ballot.”
Obviously, they have thought this through and realize that there is no way the wrong ballot could wind up in the hands of non-citizen “voters.”
We are ready to make history and expand our democracy! #OurCityOurVote will become a reality. We will win. I can’t express my deep admiration and gratitude to the amazing members and staff at @thenyic! #Onward #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/wbrTmD7934
— Murad Awawdeh (@HeyItsMurad) November 23, 2021
“Immigrants have always been vital to the city, and during [COVID] they risked their lives to keep the city moving,” said Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition. “This comes down to nook-and-cranny issues like trash and how the budget is spent. These are things our community members have strong opinions about.”
It is interesting that he chose the words “nook-and-cranny,” given the number of people that believe that is where they will be finding votes at the 11th hour in upcoming federal elections to ensure that the balance of power remains leaning in one direction.
In the face of the measure in New York City, numerous states have enacted legislation stating that non-citizens cannot vote, even in state or local elections. Some of those states include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Arizona and North Dakota.
Meanwhile, some states are actually pushing for the same type of legislation advancing in New York City at a larger level.
Vermont governor asks lawmakers to grant statewide voting for non-citizens in local elections
MONTPELIER, VT – Republican Governor Phil Scott recently vetoed two pieces of legislation that would have granted legal residents, who are not full U.S. citizens, the right to vote in local elections in Montpelier and Winooski.
However, the rationale for vetoing the pieces of legislation wasn’t due to Governor Scott exactly being against non-citizens obtaining voting rights in local elections, but he would rather see legislation that creates a statewide approach on legal residents voting in local elections.
https://twitter.com/JxhnBxnder/status/1400632855978463242
Lawmakers recently presented Governor Scott legislation that would’ve granted non-citizen residents (not to be confused with illegal immigrants) the ability to vote in local elections in Montpelier and Winooski.
Yet, Governor Scott vetoed the two bills brought before him, noting concerns about inconsistencies granting such legislation would create.
On June 1st, Governor Scott wrote the following explanation for the aforementioned vetoes:
“This is an important policy discussion that deserves further consideration and debate. Allowing a highly variable town-by-town approach to municipal voting creates inconsistency in election policy, as well as separate and unequal classes of residents potentially eligible to vote on local issues.
I believe it is the role of the Legislature to establish clarity and consistency on this matter.
This should include defining how municipalities determine which legal residents may vote on local issues, as well as specifying the local matters they may vote on. Returning these bills provides the opportunity to do this important work.”
Governor Scott’s added in his rationale for the vetoes that he’d prefer to see lawmakers craft legislation that would create a statewide approach on non-citizens voting in local elections:
“I understand these charter changes are well-intentioned, but I ask the Legislature to revisit the issue of non-citizen voting in a more comprehensive manner and develop a statewide policy or a uniform template and process for those municipalities wishing to grant the right of voting in local elections to all legal residents.”
The spirit behind such an effort would potentially see the likes of legal residents who haven’t fully attained citizenship in the country being able to vote for things like mayoral races, city council, school board elections and so on in Vermont.
Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed two bills that would have approved charter amendments in Montpelier and Winooski to allow noncitizen residents to vote in their local elections. https://t.co/nnAk9pkRua
— FOX23News (@FOX23News) June 2, 2021
Legal residents who aren’t full-blown citizens usually fall under an LPR status (green card holders) or some iteration of a non-immigrant visa holder permitted to work within the United States.
Barring some very specific instances pertaining to non-immigrant visa holders, both classes of non-citizens are held to the same tax liabilities as that of any other U.S. citizen.
In other recent news pertaining to legislation, lawmakers in Michigan passed a veto-proof bill that would offer respite to businesses that were fined under various COVID restrictions after Governor Whitmer was caught violating one of her own orders on camera.
Here’s that previous report from May.
_
LANSING, MI – After reports and photos circulated of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer violating her own pandemic restrictions regarding group sizes at dining establishments, the Michigan House reportedly passed a veto-proof bill that would refund all COVID-related fines for businesses that made a one-time infringement.
A veto-proof majority of Michigan representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would require the state to refund coronavirus-related fines after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) was caught violating her own order.
https://t.co/lVjvk0skN3 via @BreitbartNews— GobiDesertKayaking (@ASREdwards) May 27, 2021
Back on May 23rd, a report originally published by Breitbart news showcased a photo of Governor Whitmer with a group of friends that had pushed together a couple of tables at a bar called the Landshark located in East Lansing.
The photo in question showed Governor Whitmer among at least twelve other people in the photo at this establishment, which was in violation of her restaurant capacity order that imposed a six-person limit on groups dining out together.
Specifically, that order the Michigan governor violated was among an update to the “Gatherings and Face Mask Order” dated May 15th, 2021.
Speaker Pelosi went to the salon when you couldn’t.
Gavin Newsom dined indoors at a restaurant when you couldn’t.
Governor Whitmer gathered with a large group at a bar when you couldn’t.
With Democrats, there’s always a double standard.https://t.co/XTiMjo6dMt
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) May 24, 2021
In response to the revelation of Governor Whitmer violating her own orders pertaining to pandemic restrictions and guidelines, she issued the following statement:
“Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been committed to following public health protocols. Yesterday, I went with friends to a local restaurant. As more people arrived, the tables were pushed together. Because we were all vaccinated, we didn’t stop to think about it. In retrospect, I should have thought about it. I am human. I made a mistake, and I apologize.”
REACTION: After a photo surfaced of @GovWhitmer at a table in an East Lansing bar with a dozen other people, seemingly against her own COVID orders, her press secretary released this statement from Whitmer:@9and10News pic.twitter.com/fePStJvfK8
— Eric Lloyd (@EricLloyd) May 23, 2021
She also managed to avoid being fined, despite the fact that numerous businesses in her state were subjected to these very sorts of fines for similar infractions.
On May 25th, a veto-proof majority of Michigan representatives passed HB 4501, which is a bill that would refund businesses that were subject to any pandemic related fines so long as it was the business’ first infraction and they took steps to rectify the issue outlined in the fine.
During a house floor speech regarding the bill, Republican Representative Steve Johnson stated the following about why the bill should be passed:
“To highlight the importance of this legislation, I want to tell you a story about how easy it is to violate these orders – how easy it is to get caught on one of these – and why it’s important why we have some mercy here.
“See, there was an individual that wanted to hang out with some friends. And what better place to hang out than at a restaurant? And they’re hanging out at the restaurant, and they made, as what she described, as an ‘honest mistake’ – they pushed some tables together.
“Now the problem with that is, now you’re violating the governor’s social distancing requirements. Now if that would’ve happened to a business in my district, that thousands of dollars of fines on you.
“Well, the good news for this individual is she happens to be the governor of Michigan. No fines. No citations. No penalties. Must be nice.
“Colleagues, the question before you today is should the businesses in our district get the same treatment as the governor. That’s all I’m asking.”
Clearly, the message shared by Rep. Johnson resonated with the House floor, as the bill passed the House in a 74-34 vote in favor of the bill.
HB 4501 has since been referred over to the State Senate’s Committee on Economic and Small Business Development.
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