Yes to young people and non US citizens to vote in local elections?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should have to be at least 18 years of age, be a US citizen and meet one of these two qualifications to vote in US elections:

Be a land owner who can trace their ancestry to someone who came to the US before 1776,

Or

Pass a civics test the ensures you understand the founding principles of the United States and how the Government works.

I’m good with this.

There should be a civics test required for voter registration anyway. The same one they require new citizens to pass. That’s totally fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure. You want my 15 year old, who along with all her friends, thinks money comes from “the government” to vote locally. On things like bond referendums. Or people who got here 3 months ago, haven’t paid a penny in taxes yet but are already net consumers of public benefits, to elect politicians who will give them more free stuff.

Yeah great. Great plan.

JFC, we’re doomed.

Sure, if you want to talk about specific examples:

- I would absolute feel confident letting a 16.5yo who holds a part-time job, pays taxes, drives on our roads, and spends time 5 days a week in school learning about civics, current events, and exercising their reasoning and judgment skills have a say in local representation.

- I would absolutely let a lawful permanent resident homeowner and small business owner who has been here for 8 years have a voice in local politics.

So make each registered voter demonstrate their knowledge of civics and that they are contributing to society by working paying taxes?

So retirees wouldn’t vote?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure. You want my 15 year old, who along with all her friends, thinks money comes from “the government” to vote locally. On things like bond referendums. Or people who got here 3 months ago, haven’t paid a penny in taxes yet but are already net consumers of public benefits, to elect politicians who will give them more free stuff.

Yeah great. Great plan.

JFC, we’re doomed.

I don't agree, but old people in that case would be a much bigger concern. Many of them are basically single-issue voters focused on how much the government will boost their SS and Medicare handouts next year.

Handouts? You mean getting their return on their income taken out during their working years for SS in their retirement now???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should have to be at least 18 years of age, be a US citizen and meet one of these two qualifications to vote in US elections:

Be a land owner who can trace their ancestry to someone who came to the US before 1776,

Or

Pass a civics test the ensures you understand the founding principles of the United States and how the Government works.

So Native Americans would have to take a citizenship test? Seems like only #2 would be necessary as most people who grew up in the US and graduates from a HS here had to take a civics class and pass. Not sure how you’d handle people who didn’t pass that class. How would you compel people already here to take the test — especially if there is functionally no benefit to being a US citizen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should have to be at least 18 years of age, be a US citizen and meet one of these two qualifications to vote in US elections:

Be a land owner who can trace their ancestry to someone who came to the US before 1776,

Or

Pass a civics test the ensures you understand the founding principles of the United States and how the Government works.

So Native Americans would have to take a citizenship test? Seems like only #2 would be necessary as most people who grew up in the US and graduates from a HS here had to take a civics class and pass. Not sure how you’d handle people who didn’t pass that class. How would you compel people already here to take the test — especially if there is functionally no benefit to being a US citizen?

To be clear — I’m not for native born Americans taking citizenship tests unless neither parent is a citizen. Then, more thought is needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure. You want my 15 year old, who along with all her friends, thinks money comes from “the government” to vote locally. On things like bond referendums. Or people who got here 3 months ago, haven’t paid a penny in taxes yet but are already net consumers of public benefits, to elect politicians who will give them more free stuff.

Yeah great. Great plan.

JFC, we’re doomed.

Sure, if you want to talk about specific examples:

- I would absolute feel confident letting a 16.5yo who holds a part-time job, pays taxes, drives on our roads, and spends time 5 days a week in school learning about civics, current events, and exercising their reasoning and judgment skills have a say in local representation.

- I would absolutely let a lawful permanent resident homeowner and small business owner who has been here for 8 years have a voice in local politics.

I'm pretty sure the OP is asking about the Rockville non-binding questions in the Nov. election. The question regarding non-US citizens does not have any requirements on permanent status, home ownership and/or business owner. It's anybody, anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure. You want my 15 year old, who along with all her friends, thinks money comes from “the government” to vote locally. On things like bond referendums. Or people who got here 3 months ago, haven’t paid a penny in taxes yet but are already net consumers of public benefits, to elect politicians who will give them more free stuff.

Yeah great. Great plan.

JFC, we’re doomed.

Sure, if you want to talk about specific examples:

- I would absolute feel confident letting a 16.5yo who holds a part-time job, pays taxes, drives on our roads, and spends time 5 days a week in school learning about civics, current events, and exercising their reasoning and judgment skills have a say in local representation.

- I would absolutely let a lawful permanent resident homeowner and small business owner who has been here for 8 years have a voice in local politics.

I'm pretty sure the OP is asking about the Rockville non-binding questions in the Nov. election. The question regarding non-US citizens does not have any requirements on permanent status, home ownership and/or business owner. It's anybody, anyhow.

Yeah, no it isn't.

The question is only asking whether the issue of allowing non-citizens to vote should be explored. Any subsequent proposal would include parameters/procedures.
It is similar to the representative districts question- it doesn't say how many or how the districts would be drawn. Just asking whether it should be explored.
Same with term limits.

The only one that is black or white is the 16yo voting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No and it depends.

No to letter younger people vote. Yes, to letting anyone who lives in the jurisdiction and has a child enrolled in a public school vote in school board elections. There may be other cases in which it makes sense to let non-citizens vote, but I definitely think it makes sense to let non-citizens with kids enrolled in public schools vote in elections for people who run public schools.

In that case, let the teens themselves vote for the school board. I think the results would be surprising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should have to be at least 18 years of age, be a US citizen and meet one of these two qualifications to vote in US elections:

Be a land owner who can trace their ancestry to someone who came to the US before 1776,

Or

Pass a civics test the ensures you understand the founding principles of the United States and how the Government works.

I’m good with this.

There should be a civics test required for voter registration anyway. The same one they require new citizens to pass. That’s totally fair.

It’s actually totally unconstitutional.

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

18 is young enough no need to go younger. And I don’t see any compelling reason why non-citizens should vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No and it depends.

No to letter younger people vote. Yes, to letting anyone who lives in the jurisdiction and has a child enrolled in a public school vote in school board elections. There may be other cases in which it makes sense to let non-citizens vote, but I definitely think it makes sense to let non-citizens with kids enrolled in public schools vote in elections for people who run public schools.

The students already vote for a student member of the board every year, so that is already happening….

In that case, let the teens themselves vote for the school board. I think the results would be surprising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No and it depends.

No to letter younger people vote. Yes, to letting anyone who lives in the jurisdiction and has a child enrolled in a public school vote in school board elections. There may be other cases in which it makes sense to let non-citizens vote, but I definitely think it makes sense to let non-citizens with kids enrolled in public schools vote in elections for people who run public schools.

In that case, let the teens themselves vote for the school board. I think the results would be surprising.

The students already vote for a student member of the board every year, so that is already happening….

[Anonymous]

I am for raising the minimum age to 21 and requiring an IQ test to vote
I am also ok with non citizens voting (if they’ve been here say a year at least)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why should green card holders or permanent residents be allowed to vote? If they care so much about the United States (or Rockville), they can naturalize. They obviously have a reason why they are not doing that. No, citizenship should mean something. And while we're at it, let's do away with dual citizenship. If you can't commit, why should we let you vote?

This always confused me. I thought as part of the citizenship ceremony people had to renounce their other citizenships. Is it just that we don't track it? Or are all of these dual citizens born into it?