Did College Park really just allow non-citizens the right to vote?

[Anonymous]

Well, that is one way to devalue citizenship I guess.

[jsteele]

The right to vote in local elections, yes. Takoma Park and Hyattsville already allow this and it has been proposed for DC.

[Anonymous]

This is not new to the area. TkPk has been doing it forever, as Jeff says.

I would argue that it encourages local-level investment and results in a constituency that is more accurately and equitably represented, more than it discourages citizenship.

[Anonymous]

Wtf?!?

[Anonymous]

If an illegal alien is deported back to their country of citizenship, can they still get a mail-in absentee ballot to vote in College Park elections?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:If an illegal alien is deported back to their country of citizenship, can they still get a mail-in absentee ballot to vote in College Park elections?

The law doesn't apply to undocumented residents. So, no.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If an illegal alien is deported back to their country of citizenship, can they still get a mail-in absentee ballot to vote in College Park elections?

The law doesn't apply to undocumented residents. So, no.

What Jeff said. This applies to legal residents, so basically green card holders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If an illegal alien is deported back to their country of citizenship, can they still get a mail-in absentee ballot to vote in College Park elections?

The law doesn't apply to undocumented residents. So, no.

What Jeff said. This applies to legal residents, so basically green card holders.

You are both wrong according to WTOP:

http://wtop.com/prince-georges-county/2017/09/college-park-allows-noncitizens-vote/

[Anonymous]

From link above:

"The city council passed the measure on a vote of 4-3. It came after a summer filled with heated debate.

The measure applies to green-card holders, undocumented immigrants and those with student-visas."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From link above:

"The city council passed the measure on a vote of 4-3. It came after a summer filled with heated debate.

The measure applies to green-card holders, undocumented immigrants and those with student-visas."

If anyone can justify the ridiculousness of this, I will tip my hat to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From link above:

"The city council passed the measure on a vote of 4-3. It came after a summer filled with heated debate.

The measure applies to green-card holders, undocumented immigrants and those with student-visas."

If anyone can justify the ridiculousness of this, I will tip my hat to you.

They're residents of the town and likely pay taxes as well. They have an interest in governance.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:From link above:

"The city council passed the measure on a vote of 4-3. It came after a summer filled with heated debate.

The measure applies to green-card holders, undocumented immigrants and those with student-visas."

If that is true, this measure is broader than the others with which I am familiar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From link above:

"The city council passed the measure on a vote of 4-3. It came after a summer filled with heated debate.

The measure applies to green-card holders, undocumented immigrants and those with student-visas."

If anyone can justify the ridiculousness of this, I will tip my hat to you.

They're residents of the town and likely pay taxes as well. They have an interest in governance.

Undocumented immigrants pay taxes? News to me.

So they snuck into our country (breaking the law!) and are entitled to legally vote in an election? I don't consider "they are residents of the town" an appropriate justification.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From link above:

"The city council passed the measure on a vote of 4-3. It came after a summer filled with heated debate.

The measure applies to green-card holders, undocumented immigrants and those with student-visas."

If that is true, this measure is broader than the others with which I am familiar.

I do not know if it's true; I am only quoting what WTOP had up on their web page when I linked it. That leaves only 2 possibilities:

Either it IS true, or WTOP is ethically obligated to issue a correction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From link above:

"The city council passed the measure on a vote of 4-3. It came after a summer filled with heated debate.

The measure applies to green-card holders, undocumented immigrants and those with student-visas."

If anyone can justify the ridiculousness of this, I will tip my hat to you.

They're residents of the town and likely pay taxes as well. They have an interest in governance.

Undocumented immigrants pay taxes? News to me.

So they snuck into our country (breaking the law!) and are entitled to legally vote in an election? I don't consider "they are residents of the town" an appropriate justification.

They pay sales tax and property tax through rent. And since college park does not collect its own income tax, that means they are paying all local taxes involved in any local elections.