Court evaluates law that allows permanent residents to vote

A New York court is evaluating from today the law that allows immigrants with permanent residence in the US or with a work permit to vote in the New York City elections after several Republican legislators denounced that law as unconstitutional.

The law was approved by the City Council in December and signed by Mayor Eric Adms, who was sworn in on January 1, the month the measure took effect, but was later challenged by Republicans.

The legal text establishes that the new voters will be able to elect their mayor, councilors and other local positions, although they will not participate in the state or federal elections.

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Before the judge began hearing arguments today from the plaintiffs, including the state Republican Party, and the law’s defenders, a group of legal residents defended their right to vote to elect their representatives.

“The city did not ask any of us for our status to be on the front lines during the pandemic,” or to deliver meals to homes or work in the food industry, said nurse Hina Naveed, during the brief press conference. they performed outside the Staten Island courthouse where the law is under scrutiny.

Among the arguments raised in the lawsuit by the Republicans is that they will have the same rights and privileges as a citizen when casting their vote in the city and remember that voting is a right that the State Constitution reserves for US citizens.

They point out that there are one million legal residents in the city of which 800,000 could vote under the new law, while citizen voters are 5 million.

According to the proposals, legal residents could in the future make up 15% or more of the city’s electorate, a figure they allege is greater than the margin of victory in many municipal elections.

They also argue that the new law will cause a considerable and abrupt change in the composition of the electorate, which will force the plaintiffs to change the way they campaign, among other points.

The immigrants, who are defended by LatinoJustice PRDE, claimed their right to make their voices heard in a city where they live, work, pay taxes and raise their children.

“I will be one of the first in my family to be able to vote in municipal elections, and through this vote, my parents will also have a voice. This legislation is being questioned and I am here to intervene and make my voice heard,” said Emili Prado. , one of several recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, who today defended the law.

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