Council Members Joann Ariola (L) Vickie Paladino (C) and Robert Holden (R) have signed onto a lawsuit with leaders of the New York state Republican Party arguing a new city law that allows legal noncitizens to vote in local elections is unconstitutional (Photos via Facebook)Three Queens Council Members have joined a Republican-led lawsuit that aims to block a new city law that allows legal noncitizens to vote in local elections.
Jan. 11, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
Republican Council Members Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino as well as Democrat Council Member Robert Holden have signed onto a lawsuit with leaders of the New York state Republican Party arguing that the new law is unconstitutional.
The suit, filed Monday in Staten Island Supreme Court, asks a judge to issue an injunction against the city from implementing the law.
The suit states that the law violates Article 2, Section 1, of the state constitution, which grants the right to vote in all elections to “every citizen” 18 years of age or older.
“The law is clear and the ethics are even clearer,” New York Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy said in a statement. “We shouldn’t be allowing citizens of other nations to vote in our elections, full stop.”
The legal action seeks to stop 800,000 non-citizen New Yorkers – comprised of green card holders and residents who are authorized to work — from voting in local elections.
The suit was filed less than 24 hours after a bill, titled “Our City, Our Vote,” went into effect that grants most noncitizens the right to vote in local elections. Mayor Adams decided not to challenge the legislation after the previous council passed the bill by 33 votes to 14 last month, one vote short of overriding the mayor’s power to veto the bill.
Under the legislation, legal residents now have the right to vote in city elections, such as for mayor, public advocate, comptroller and their local council member. They are unable to vote in state and federal elections.
However, legal experts have questioned its constitutionality, as do the Queens legislators named in the suit.
The plaintiffs also argue that the new law violates Section 5-102(1) of Chapter 17 state election law which states that “no person shall be qualified to register for and vote at any election unless he is a citizen of the United States.”
Furthermore, they argue in the suit that a public referendum is required to pass any law that changes the method of voting under the state’s Municipal Home Rule Law.
Three Queens Council Members have joined a lawsuit which aims to block the city’s new law allowing legal noncitizens to vote in local elections (Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)
Holden, who represents Council District 30 in central Queens, said he joined the lawsuit because he believes the law is unconstitutional and “absurd.” He is the only Democratic lawmaker named in the suit.
“Citizenship and suffrage have always been tied together for good reason, and must never be torn from each other,” Holden said in a statement.
He also criticized a stipulation in the bill that only requires noncitizens to live in the city for 30 days prior to a local election.
Ariola, who represents Council District 32 in southeastern Queens, expressed her support for the lawsuit on social media Monday.
“Voting is the right of American citizens,” Ariola posted on Twitter.
“There are so many immigrants that came to this country and became citizens, who also oppose this legislation.”
Featured Events
6 Comments
I applaud these trie Anerican Politicians. The Democratic Socialists have to be stopped before they let illegals vote in State and Federal elections Why even ask people to become citizens when these illegals have to only be in NYC for 30 days. Shame on Eric Adams for lettingnthis bill becone law. Also the bills sponsor Ydanis Rodriguez told New Yorkers who did not agree with his bill toove out. This is some real good American Politician.
Another Socialist Democrat who hates America. Tjis bill needs to go down to defeat. I believe it is against tje state constotution
Which states only citizens can vote
It is about time someone pushed back against this over-wokeness. Thank you council Members Joann Ariola, Vickie Paladino, and Robert Holden
Good for them!
Just a reminder that New York City resides within the United States of America. The United States of America has a founding document of laws called the Constitution. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. Why do New York politicians regularly feel as though a city housed within a country is free from the laws which guide that country?
Do these politicians not realize that many of these legal residents of the city, who have lived here for years as green card holders might vote for them? It only applies to CITY elections and as residents and taxpayers in the city, they should have the right to vote in local elections. Maybe once they vote in the local elections they will see how their vote counts and apply for citizenship. We should be encouraging those who are legal residents to become citizens and this is one way to do it.
You arebin DREAM LAND if you think this will helpbthem become citizens! The 30 day BYC residency requirement isba joke in itself. Are you another WOKE Socialist Democrat.Look what Democratoc Woke Socialists have done to NTC. Look around you . Look at the crimr increase undet the NO bail law and police defunding along with handcuffing the Police by our MARXIST ex -mayor DeBlasio. The fact that many will not even learn english means they want things their way instead of assimilating as past immigrants have.Making things easy for non citizens and illegal immigrants getting Stimulus money from The State because they did not qualify for stimulus checks and Idiot Kathy Hochul makung it easy for them to claim their sgare of Cuomo’ s allotted $2.1 billion of taxpayet money. Not enoughnillegals could prove twhete they worked and how long they were in NY. The reason is so many worked off the books and pay 0 taxes She waived their ID and made it easy to claim.betwern $15,609 and $3,200 retro to March 2020. Now the $2.1 billion fund is EMPTY. The Dem Socialist Majority is asking Hochul for $3 billion more of taxpayer money free for illegal Immigrants who deserve NOTHING BUT DEPORTATION. The NY state Constitition states all cotizens can bote not non citizens or illegals.
Let us hope tbese 3 snart Council membets win.tje suit. This is a slap in tje face to people who earned their citizenship tje right way and became CITIZENS. Do not cheapen our citizenship please .
Voting is the right of a citizen only. It’s black and white language in both the US and NYS Constitutions. If a legal resident made the decision to stop short of pledging allegiance to America and become a citizen, then they fell short of the right to vote. The definition of anarchy is an absence of laws. If laws are not enforced, then we have a de facto state of anarchy.