Non-Citizen Voting In NYC Has Been Struck Down In Court

NEW YORK CITY — A law that allowed some non-U.S. citizens to vote in certain New York City elections was just struck down by New York's highest court, according to a decision released Thursday.

The law, which was known as Local Law 11, permitted some legal permanent residents — like green card holders and people with work authorization — the right to vote in certain municipal elections, like the ones for mayor, city council, comptroller and public advocate.

But Thursday, just three years after the bill became law, it was ruled out by six of the seven judges on the New York's Court of Appeals, according to the court filing.

"Whatever the future may bring, the New York Constitution as it stands today draws a firm line restricting voting to citizens," Chief Judge Rowan Wilson wrote in the court opinion.

The bill was first approved by City Council in December 2021. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio left office without signing the law or vetoing it, so it went to Mayor Eric Adams, who also declined to sign it or veto it, according to the legal filing.

So, the bill became law due to mayoral inaction in January 2022, according to the legal filing.

The same day it became law, a group led by Vito J. Fossella, the Republican Staten Island borough president, sued to strike down the ruling, and a three-year court battle followed.

"This is a victory for common sense, and the sanctity and security of our franchise -- the right to vote as American citizens. We are pleased that this matter can finally be put to rest, once and for all,” Fossella said on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

See the court filing here.

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