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 1. Politics




CONSERVATIVE POLS CALL FOR END TO NYC NON-CITIZEN VOTING PUSH AMID MIGRANT
CRISIS


 * Updated: Jun. 23, 2023, 8:08 a.m.|
 * Published: Jun. 22, 2023, 6:01 p.m.

A New York City Board of Elections sidewalk marker is shown outside Our Lady
Help of Christians polling site, Tottenville on Nov. 8, 2022. (Staten Island
Advance/Jillian Delaney)
 * 
 * 

By
 * Paul Liotta | pliotta@siadvance.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York City is in the midst of its June primaries, but
on Thursday a host of conservative elected officials called for the city to end
its controversial push to have non-citizens vote in local elections.

Last year, a local law passed that granted about 900,000 non-citizens the right
to vote in local elections for positions like mayor and City Council, but it has
been on hold after a judge struck it down last year after a lawsuit brought by
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella and other elected officials.



Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has been challenging that judge’s ruling in the
appeals process, but on Thursday, Fossella called for the city to end its
efforts as the city deals with an influx of nearly 80,000 migrants.

“New York State law is clear, non-citizens do not have the right to vote,” he
said. “And in pushing this appeal, in the middle of this crisis, against any
justifiable reason, many will be left with the impression that lax border
security is part of a broad agenda to increase voter rolls. And that’s an
outright shame.”

In his decision reached in June, Staten Island Supreme Court Justice Ralph
Porzio echoed some of the legal arguments opponents had made against the
legislation, particularly that it was in violation of the state’s Constitution,
election law and home rule law.

City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), a plaintiff in the
lawsuit, has repeatedly referenced a section of state election law that reads
“[no] person shall be qualified to register for and vote at any election unless
he is a citizen of the United States.”



Had the law gone into effect, people who obtained status as a legal permanent
resident or a work authorization would have been able to vote in local elections
if they had been a resident of the city for 30 days.

While most of the people who have arrived in the city lack that status or the
work authorization, Adams has made repeated calls for the federal government to
grant the new arrivals work authorizations.

On Thursday, Borelli joined Fossella in calling for the Adams administration to
withdraw its appeal of last year’s court victory. The mayor’s office did not
respond to a request for comment by the time of publication, but the city Law
Department said they intend to continue with the appeal, a hearing for which
will take place Friday.

“Not only New Yorkers, but people across this country should be alarmed by the
potential outcome of this case,” Borelli said. “If the Appellate Court overturns
the lower court ruling and allows foreign nationals to vote in our elections, it
will further embolden the radicals who want to erase all national borders,
undermine the rule of law, and destroy the value of United States citizenship.”



City Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island) said Thursday that he was proud to
have voted in 2021 against the Council legislation, sponsored by then-City
Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) who now heads the city Department of
Transportation.

“Only American citizens should be allowed to vote in this country,” Carr said.
“The trial court was completely right when they ruled New York City could not
extend voting rights to noncitizens, and I hope the Appellate Division
recognizes the irrefutable logic of our case.”

While the legislation passed the Democrat-controlled Council, it didn’t do so
without strong opposition from both sides of the aisle.

REASONS FOR OPPOSITION

Reasons for opposition included the brevity of the 30-day residency requirement
before a non-citizen could vote and its effect on the African-American
community’s already small share of the city’s vote.

Former City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo (D-Brooklyn), who now heads the
city Department of Cultural Affairs, backed a motion to delay a Council vote on
the bill that would have effectively killed it before it passed.



“The only thing that many African-American communities have left are their Black
representatives and representation,” she said during the debate on the Council
floor.

Across the country, non-citizens have had varying rights to vote throughout
history. In New York City, non-citizen parents had the right to vote in school
board elections until 2002, when school boards were disbanded.

Opponents concede that non-citizens could be granted the right to vote, but it
would require action on the part of the State Legislature along with a possible
statewide referendum.

OTHER ISLAND POLS SOUND OFF

Assemblyman Mike Reilly (R-South Shore), another plaintiff in the Fossella-led
lawsuit, has brought forth opposing legislation that would prevent
municipalities from bringing another piece bill like what passed the City
Council.

“Irresponsible policymaking by New York City Democrats has contributed to the
dumpster fire that is the culmination of the Biden administration’s failed
border agenda,” he said Thursday.



Even local election officials didn’t seem entirely on board with the idea.

City Board of Election officials needed a plan by July 1 of last year to
implement non-citizen voting, but the board’s president and secretary sent a
letter in early 2022 to the state Board of Elections seeking advice about
apparent conflicts between state law and the municipal legislation.

“NYC Democrat policies are wrecking our state and they seek to maintain power
buying the votes of people who are not American citizens,” State Sen. Andrew
Lanza (R-South Shore) said Thursday.

“The idea that a person can move to New York City and register to vote after 30
days is preposterous and ripe for fraud,” Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East
Shore/South Brooklyn) added.

“The New York State Constitution is clear as day – non-citizens cannot vote in
our elections,” said Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo.

“There is nothing more important than preserving the integrity of our election
system,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) said. “The
government should be working to create more trust in our elections, not less. As
New York State and federal law clearly state, the right to vote is a sacred
right given only to United States citizens. The mayor’s push to appeal the State
Supreme Court’s decision is reckless and cynical, particularly as he
incentivizes mass migration by providing free housing and other services. I join
my colleagues in calling on the mayor to withdraw this effort that would dilute
the voices of American citizens and forever change our city as we know it.”



City Councilman Bob Holden (D-Queens), City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino
(R-Queens), City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens) and City Councilwoman Inna
Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) joined the Staten Island elected officials in calling on
the Adams administration to withdraw its appeal.

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