Green card voting appeal

The City Council on Monday asked the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest legal authority, to strike down a pair of rulings in a move that would pave the way for noncitizen immigrants to vote in city elections.

The change, passed by the council in late 2021 and signed into law by thenMayor Bill de Blasio, would allow 800,000 noncitizens with green cards to vote, but it has been struck down as unconstitutional by two courts.

“Today’s filing to appeal the . . . decision seeks a determination from the state’s highest court that the law is consistent with the State Constitution, Election Law, and the Municipal Home Rule Law,” said council spokesperson Rendy Desamours. “Empowering New Yorkers to participate in our local democratic process can only strengthen New York City by increasing civic engagement.”

The council has argued that legal noncitizens should be able to vote because they pay taxes and make contributions to their community.

But Staten Island President Vito Fossella, one of the lawmakers who challenged the law, said, “In plain English, the New York state constitution says only citizens have a right to vote in these elections.”

Mayor Adams, a co-defendant in previous court battles, did not join in the challenge Monday.

Hizzoner has been quiet as of late about the measure, known as Local Law 11, which was sponsored by then-Councilman Ydanis Rodríguez (D-Washington Heights), who now serves as Adams’ commissioner of transportation.

The mayor’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

News of the appeal comes just hours after advocates rallied outside City Hall in an attempt to gain support for the initiative from the mayor’s office and others in the city.