Permanent Residents, Work Permit Holders and Dreamers Would Soon Vote in Municipal Elections

New York’s new mayor, Eric Adams, has given the final green light to a rule passed last month by city lawmakers to allow immigrant residents in the city to vote in local elections.

Adams, who in the past had expressed some doubts about the measure, let the deadline he had to veto the new legislation expire, so it officially took effect on Sunday.

With it, the Big Apple will become the first major city in the United States that permanently allows immigrants who reside legally, such as people with work permits or temporary protected status, as well as those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, known as “dreamers,” to vote in municipal elections.

In total, nearly 900,000 people will be added to the census, a large portion of them immigrants of Latino origin, who will be able to elect their mayor, councilors, and other local offices, but who will still not be able to participate in state or federal elections.

The mayor, a Democrat like his predecessor, acknowledged that he “initially had some concerns” about certain aspects of the rule, but said these have disappeared after conversations with some of his colleagues.

“I believe that allowing this legislation to come into force is undoubtedly the best choice and I am looking forward to adding millions to the democratic process,” he said.

The measure was approved in December by the Democratic-led City Council, after four previous attempts to push it through over the past twelve years failed.

Source: Vive USA. (2021). New York gives green light to rule that will allow immigrants to vote. https://www.viveusa.mx/noticias/nueva-york-da-luz-verde-norma-que-permitira-inmigrantes-votar

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