New York Mayor Eric Adams, the City Council, and the Board of Elections were sued on Monday over a new rule allowing noncitizens to vote in elections.
Republican National Committee (RNC) and others filed a lawsuit against the city alongside City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borrelli, Rep Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), and others.
New legislation passed by the Democrat-controlled City Council and approved by Adams, who became mayor on January 1, was considered a constitutional violation and an election law violation, plaintiffs claim.
A bill allowing 800,000 noncitizens to vote in local elections, such as illegal immigrants who arrived in the nation as children, if allowed to go into effect could potentially make a big impact on local elections.
Under New York law, anyone can register to vote but must be a citizen of the United States, while the New York Constitution says every voter must be a citizen.
“American elections should be decided by American citizens. If Democrats can subvert elections this flagrantly in America’s largest city, they can do it anywhere. The RNC is suing to protect the integrity of our elections, and we stand ready to do the same wherever Democrats try to attack the basic security of your ballot,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement.
Councilwoman Margaret Chin, a Democrat, told colleagues before the vote that many noncitizens struggle to become citizens but should still be able to vote in the meanwhile because they pay taxes and live and work in the city.
“They want to be citizens, they want to be able to vote for the president, but at least we have the opportunity to allow them to vote for the elected officials that are representing them in the city,” said Chin, who voted for the measure.
11 Jan 2022
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