New York Supreme Court Strikes Down Noncitizen Voting Law

The law was passed late in 2021 by the New York City Council. It created a class of voters made up of noncitizens who were granted the right to register for and vote in local elections.

The so-called “municipal voters” would have had to reside in the city for only 30 days before an election and could have voted for mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president, and council member, according to Fox News.

It’s estimated that the law would have allowed between 800,000 and 1 million noncitizens to vote.

>Richmond County Supreme Court Judge Ralph Porzio wrote the court’s ruling, saying, “The New York State Constitution explicitly lays the foundation for ascertaining that only proper citizens retain the right to voter privileges.”

The Republican National Committee and New York Republican State Committee spearheaded the lawsuit against city officials over the law. They argued it violated the state constitution and would dilute the votes of legal citizens.

Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), who represents Staten Island, celebrated the decision.

“This Supreme Court decision is a victory for preserving the integrity and security of our elections,” she said in a statement.

“I stand with the vast majority of New Yorkers who are pleased to see the court strike down Democrats’ shameful attempt to dilute the voices of American citizens by allowing non-citizens to vote. The government should be working to create more trust in our elections, not less.”