New York, NY-The New York City Council passed Intro 1867, which expands the right to vote in municipal elections to roughly 900,000 non-citizen New Yorkers with legal permanent residence status or other valid work authorization. The Our City, Our Vote Coalition (OCOV), New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), United Neighborhood Houses, allies, and immigrant New Yorkers have worked for years to secure the passage of this historic legislation. The most significant expansion of NYC’s democracy in over a century, today’s vote also marked a significant victory in the ongoing fight for voting rights across the country.
“Today, we finally gave immigrant New Yorkers who raise their kids here, build our economy, and contribute to this vibrant city every single day a voice in their local democracy,†said Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition. “This groundbreaking legislation gives nearly one million New Yorkers a voice in the issues we all care about; the quality of our schools, the safety of our streets, and countless other large and small ways the city government impacts our lives. Now, it’s time for Mayor de Blasio to immediately sign Intro 1867 into law. This legislation will usher in the largest enfranchisement of New Yorkers in more than a century and marks a bold step forward in the fight for protecting and expanding democracy. NYC can once again serve as a model for cities and counties across the country. When powerful forces lobby to restrict access to the ballot box and seek to turn our country back, New York can and must offer a strong reminder that our leaders don’t get to choose their voters. The voters choose who leads them.â€
“It is no secret, we are making history today. 50 years down the line when our children look back at this moment they will see a diverse coalition of advocates who came together to write a new chapter in New York City’s history by giving immigrant New Yorkers the power of the ballot,†said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. “What we are doing here today is nothing new. The City of Tacoma Park in Maryland has been allowing non-citizens to vote in their municipal elections since the 1990s. 13 other Cities in Maryland, including California, and Illinois allow non-citizens the right to vote. It is time for New York City to take the baton. I want to thank The New York Immigration Coalition, United Neighborhood Houses, Speaker Johnson, Council Members Daniel Dromm, Margaret Chin, and Carlos Menchaca, and the Our City, Our Vote Coalition for all their support in getting this bill passed.â€
"NYC has an aura. There is something palpable in the air that draws people to it. It is the city of dreams, a city that is built on the diversity of its people,†said Ali Rashid, President of American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG). “NYC is an amalgamation of people of different backgrounds, cultures, and socioeconomic standings. People from all over the world come here in the hopes of chasing the American dream. It is heartwarming for the American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG) to be a part of the Our City Our Vote Coalition in passing historic legislation in Intro 1867. It is the culmination of tireless efforts both day and night to allow NYC to become the largest city in the nation to enfranchise immigrants - to give them agency and opportunity to grasp at their dreams."
Council Member Carlos Menchaca, Chair of the Committee on Immigration : "Opponents of this bill are already fear-mongering and spreading false information that any immigrant can come here and vote. They are wrong. Under our legislation, only those who have work authorization and have some immigration status under federal law can vote in our local elections. These are individuals like Dreamers under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program who worked as essential healthcare workers during the pandemic or Haitian New Yorkers with Temporary Protective Status who work hard and pay taxes. The law and justice are on our side."
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