Idea on noncitizen voting at standstill
Voices from both sides sound off at hearing
City councilors — who say they’ve been flooded with calls and emails from residents angry about the idea of letting noncitizens vote — ended a hearing on the issue yesterday with no plans to change the rules.
“Immigrants should earn their citizenship,” said David Cain, a Boston resident who spoke during public comment. “Naturalized citizens have the obligation to learn about our country.”
The City Council was mulling a issue raised by Council President Andrea Campbell, who called the hearing to explore the idea of letting legal residents on the path to citizenship — such as refugees or people with green cards — vote in local elections.
Lina Duarte told the council she’s been here for 10 years on a visa, that she’s working toward citizenship and believes she should have the right to cast a ballot.
“I pay taxes, I own property and I think that at the end of the day that means I should have a voice,” Duarte said.
Resident Carl Becker also struck Revolutionary-era themes in his argument for letting noncitizens vote.
“My wife has lived here for 10 years and is experiencing some flavor of taxation without representation,” Becker said.
South Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn spoke against letting noncitizens vote, saying the right to go to the polls is something that has to be earned.
“The right to vote is a unique characteristic and privilege,” said Flynn, though he said he supports an open conversation about it.
At-large Councilor Ayanna Pressley said she supports the idea of letting some noncitizens vote.
“We all deserve a say in how we govern ourselves,” said Pressley, who’s challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano from the left in the Democratic primary for the 7th Congressional seat.
Councilor Tim McCarthy, who was out of town, sent the council a letter opposing Campbell’s suggestions, writing: “Those who take issue with the rules, requirements, fairness or efficiency of our current system of immigration and naturalization should focus their attention on those issues … rather than circumventing this process entirely.”
Kim Janey — who co-signed Campbell’s order — said she’s received a great deal of calls and emails about the topic, most angrily against.
“Much of it has been very nasty and negative, which is disheartening,” Janey said.
Campbell said she plans to call for future hearings about this topic and others with a focus on immigrant civic engagement. But she told the Herald she doesn’t have any immediate plans to introduce any legislation regarding noncitizen voting.
“Given the demographics of the city and my district in particular, immigration is an important issue,” said Campbell, who represents a district that includes Mattapan and portions of Dorchester and Jamaica Plain.
Boston is home to about 180,000 immigrants, of whom half are naturalized citizens. Of those who aren’t, about 43,000 fall into the types of permanentresident categories Campbell’s talking about.