New York Court of Appeals Strikes Down Noncitizen Voting Law

The court ruled 6-1 that the law violated the state constitution, ending a legal battle over enfranchising over 800,000 noncitizens in local elections.

The New York Court of Appeals ruled that the state constitution restricts voting rights exclusively to citizens, invalidating New York City's noncitizen voting law.
The law, passed by the City Council in 2021 and enacted in 2022, would have allowed noncitizens with legal residency or work authorization to vote in municipal elections.
Republican officials challenged the law, arguing it diluted citizen votes and violated constitutional limits, with courts at every level siding against the measure.
Supporters of the law emphasized its aim to enfranchise taxpaying noncitizens contributing to their communities but facing barriers to citizenship.
The ruling aligns with broader national debates over noncitizen voting, as some U.S. jurisdictions allow it in limited contexts while others explicitly prohibit it.

One America News Network