Boston Considering Giving Non-Citizens, Including DACA Recipients VOTING RIGHTS

by Cassandra Fairbanks July 9, 2018

Boston is reportedly weighing giving non-U.S. citizens the right to vote.

The Boston Globe reports that City Council is holding a hearing on Tuesday to explore ways to “make city elections more inclusive” by “allowing immigrants with legal status in the country the right to vote in municipal races.”

In 2017, there were roughly 6,300 DACA recipients in Boston. If the city council allows the changes, they could be included in those who are granted voting rights — along with legal permanent residents and visa holders.

The changes would allow non-citizens to vote in local races such as mayor and city council, but they would still be unable to vote in federal or state elections.

According to Council President Andrea Campbell, who called for the hearing, Boston has 190,000 non-citizen residents, which represents 28 percent of the city population.

Hyde Park City Councilor Tim McCarthy has promised to push back against the effort.

“Voting is a U.S. citizen’s privilege, it’s the ultimate privilege,” McCarthy told the Boston Herald. “And I for one will continue to fight that it remains that way. … Voting for noncitizens is a step too far.”