Queens advocates push for immigrant voting rights

Queens’ advocates and elected officials rallied in support of legislation that would let New York City residents vote in local elections without being citizens. Photo courtesy of  New York Immigration Coalition.

By Rachel Vick

The formation of a supermajority in City Council has paved the way for the unchallenged passage of legislation that would give nearly one million additional New York City residents a voice in local elections.

Our City, Our Vote will enable “lawful permanent residents,” legal permanent residents and those with work authorizations, to vote in elections for City Council, Mayor, Public Advocate, and Comptroller.

“New York and the United States of America have failed… at what we established on no taxation without representation,” bill sponsor Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez said during a celebratory rally in Corona Plaza on Thursday. 

“People who pay taxes, that came here to wash dishes, to be a teacher — I was in the classroom from 93 to 2000 just with a green card — and I contributed the same or more as I have as a citizen and councilmember,” he added. “This is about giving the respect and the dignity to the men and women that work in many establishments.”

Once passed, the bill will allow the newly eligible group to have access to municipal election-specific voter registration form, but other voting procedures will remain consistent with Board of Elections standards.

Though there has not been a vote on the bill but because enough council members have signed on to the legislation, it will have to be brought for a vote in the next 60 days under City Council rules.

Advocates, community organizations and City Council co-sponsors including Catalina Cruz and Francisco Moya joined the rally to call on the legislative body to schedule the hearing sooner rather than later.

Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said that the representatives are presented with “an incredible opportunity to finally give these essential New Yorkers, who held the city together during COVID-19… a voice in their local government.

“As some of us get ready to be heard in one of the city’s most important elections, nearly one million New Yorkers will not have a voice despite their contributions to our city in its time of need,” Awawdeh said. “The super-majority we secured on Intro 1867 brings us one step closer to ending this injustice.”