A State Supreme Court judge in Staten Island, New York, Ralph J. Porzio, the measure that would have allowed more than 800,000 non-citizens to vote, violated the state constitution.
On Monday, a state Supreme Court judge in Staten Island annulled a law that would have allowed non-citizens to vote in local elections in New York City, on the grounds that it violated the state’s constitution, according to the American newspaper “New York Times”.
The measure, approved by the city council in December, would have allowed more than 800,000 legal permanent residents and people with permission to work in the United States to vote for offices such as the mayor and city council.
But the judge ruled that the new law contravened constitutional guidelines and state law that only eligible citizens could vote, and the judge noted that granting non-citizens the right to vote would require a referendum.
The law applies only to municipal elections and was not due to take effect until January of next year and the ruling would have no effect on the New York primary.
“The New York State Constitution expressly states that citizens who meet the age and residency requirements are entitled to register and vote in elections,” the judge wrote in his ruling. New York”.
Repeal of the right to vote for “non-citizens” in New York City
