Voting Rights for Residents: New York Court Revokes Them

New York court revokes voting rights for legal residents.
As reported by EFE.
Here are the details.

The New York Court of Appeals struck down a law on Thursday that would have allowed legal residents to vote in municipal elections.

The measure would have affected approximately 800,000 immigrants with permanent residency and recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Law 11, passed in December 2021 by the city council with a Democratic majority, was challenged shortly afterward by Republican lawmakers in the state’s Supreme Court.

In January 2022, a judge ruled it “unconstitutional,” arguing that the right to vote in New York is reserved exclusively for U.S. citizens.

New York Court Revokes Voting Rights for Residents

New York court strikes down law granting voting rights to legal residents https://t.co/c6d6gjf234 #right #legal

— Derecho Constitucional Venezuela (@D_Constitucion) March 20, 2025

Furthermore, the Court of Appeals ruling—six votes against and only one in favor—upheld the initial judgment and determined that the state constitution “draws a clear line restricting voting to citizens.”

According to LatinoJustice PRLDEF, the organization that represented supporters of the law, the decision is “a terrible setback for immigrant communities that contribute to the city’s well-being.”

César Ruiz, an attorney for the organization, lamented that the ruling “aligns with those seeking to exclude immigrants and reinforce barriers that deprive them of representation and rights.”

On the other hand, opponents of the measure celebrated the decision. Vito Fossella, Republican president of Staten Island and one of the leading figures behind the challenge, stated that the ruling “is a victory for common sense and the integrity of the vote, which must be exclusive to citizens.”

Impact on the Immigrant Community

Immigrant rights organizations expressed deep disappointment over the repeal of Law 11, noting that those affected “pay taxes, own businesses, perform essential jobs, and actively contribute to the city.”

Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, called the decision “a devastating setback for voting rights” and a move that “denies representation to those who keep the city running.”

The court’s ruling temporarily closes the debate on immigrant participation in municipal elections, though civil rights groups have declared their intent to continue pushing for legislative changes in the future.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: Applicants Exempt from Consular Interview for U.S. Visa