NONCITIZEN VOTING HAS HUB RESIDENTS WORRIED
City Council to hold hearing on proposal today
Some city residents worried about “watering down” what it means to be an American have hit the phones to object to a proposal before the City Council today to allow noncitizens the right to vote in municipal elections, Councilor Michael Flaherty told the Herald.
“I got a lot of calls today from folks who are concerned we are watering down what it means to be a citizen of the United States and have the privilege to vote,” Flaherty said.
The at-large councilor is the chairman of the Committee on Government Operations, which this afternoon will hold a hearing sponsored by Council President Andrea Campbell that will discuss the possibility of allowing noncitizens to vote in municipal elections. More than half of the councilors co-sponsored the hearing, including Josh Zakim, Ayanna Pressley, Michelle Wu, Lydia Edwards, Annissa Essaibi-George, Kim Janey and Ed Flynn.
“These residents that we’re aiming and talking about, are residents who lived in the city for some period of time, who send their kids to school, who run businesses and pay taxes, attend civic organizations,” Campbell said. “The goal is to have a conversation that will have many perspectives, including talking about the risk of doing something like this . ... We cannot continue to hold rallies, or pass resolutions against President Trump — we need to do more.”
Boston has a foreign-born population of more than 190,000 or 28 percent, according to Campbell’s order. The order also states non-U.S. citizens paid $116 million in state and local taxes and generate over $3.4 billion in spending, according to a 2015 city report.
Yesterday, when asked if she could foresee a future ordinance that would allow undocumented immigrants to vote in municipal elections, Campbell said “no.”
Instead, she said, a measure could include visa and green card holders, legal permanent residents and those under Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Edwards said she is only in favor of granting voting rights to immigrant citizens who serve or have served in the military.
“When it comes to those willing to die for the United States, who are serving in our military and not yet U.S. citizens, I’m OK with them voting in our elections,” she said. When asked about the possibility of other immigrant residents, she said, “I’m not there yet beyond military members. But that is why you start the conversation.”
The proposal is only in the early stages and is not up for a vote, councilors said. If in the future an ordinance is passed and signed by Mayor Martin J. Walsh, it still has to be approved by the state Legislature and signed by the governor. Massachusetts law requires voters be U.S. citizens.
Flynn yesterday would not elaborate, but said, “I look forward to the debate.”
Pressley said in a statement, “Legal residents help drive our economy and add to the vibrancy of our communities, and I believe they deserve a say in who represents them at the municipal level. I look forward to the hearing on Councilor Campbell’s proposal, and will continue to remain focused on ensuring that every Bostonian has a voice in their government.”