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The Christian
Science Monitor
April 27,
2004
Should noncitizens vote?
by Alexandra Marks
NEW YORK - In the shadow of 9/11, with a palpable disquiet running through
immigrant communities nationwide, a grass-roots movement to give legal
immigrants the right to vote in local elections is gaining a foothold from
New York to Chicago to San Francisco.
The goal is to counter the increasing sense of alienation among America's
newcomers, and replace it with community involvement and civic activism.
To advocates, it's a restoration of a right that was taken for granted in
Colonial times and as the country expanded westward.
But to opponents, this renewed effort to enfranchise immigrants is a
misguided shortcut that will undermine the process and importance of
becoming a full American citizen. READ
MORE
The
Gotham Gazette
April, 2004
Non-citizen
Voting
by Susan Reefer
When the idea of extending voting rights to non-citizens resurfaced
earlier this month, it was met with equal parts enthusiasm and skepticism.
The idea itself is nothing new; in Gotham Gazette last August, Michael
Huang wrote about the New York City Charter Commission’s intention to
ask for local voting rights for green-card holders who live in the city.
It is now the subject of legislation in the New York City Council. There
is recent precedent for this; non-citizens were able to vote in school
board elections and serve on school boards until they were abolished in
2002. The new proposals would allow legal immigrants who are eligible for
citizenship to vote in all local New York City elections.
READ
MORE
The New York
Times
April 19, 2004
A Citizen's Right
EDITORIAL DESK
Editorial on drive in New York City to give noncitizens right to cast
their ballots in local elections; says extending most important benefit of
citizenship to those who still hold their first allegiance to another
country seems counterproductive; says New York's pro-immigrant
politicians, instead of pushing for noncitizen voting, should push to
speed up citizenship process that has slowed to a crawl in United States
The New York Times
April 10, 2004
Bloomberg Voices His Opposition to Voting by Noncitizens
by WINNIE HU
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said yesterday that he opposed giving legal
immigrants who are not United States citizens the right to vote in New
York City elections, putting him at odds with many immigrant groups and
others that have been pushing for such a change. READ
MORE
New York Times
April 8, 2004
Push Is On to Give Legal Immigrants Vote in New York
By ROBERT F. WORTH
At first glance, it may seem a long shot in an era of orange alerts and
stepped-up border patrols. But quietly and carefully, elected officials,
labor unions and community groups are starting to push the notion of
allowing legal immigrants who are not United States citizens to vote in
New York City elections. READ
MORE
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