FTA: "Rebecca Stone, a TM member and chairwoman of the School Committee, has a fall Town Meeting article that proposes letting legal immigrants – who aren’t citizens – vote in local elections."
What is exactly the point of citizenship if anyone can vote regardless of residency?
Citizenship is a system of rights AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Don't these people understand that granting rights, particularly to those without responsibilities, is a really bad idea?
If non-citizens can vote, why can't non-residents? How long or what precentage of a year must someone live in an area in order to be eligible to vote? If I spend a night in a hotel once per year, does that give me the right to vote in town? What I own property but don't live there, can I vote in every town I own property in? Should everyone whom works in Brookline now get to vote in the town's elections as well?
Starting down this path creates all kinds of issues.
If non-citizens can vote, why can't non-residents?
Because they don't live there.
How long or what percentage of a year must someone live in an area in order to be eligible to vote?
I don't know, more than 50%? How do you determine residency for taxes, schools, or the many other things you need to determine residency? Why would this be different?
If I spend a night in a hotel once per year, does that give me the right to vote in town? What I own property but don't live there, can I vote in every town I own property in? Should everyone whom works in Brookline now get to vote in the town's elections as well?
No, none of that makes any sense, no one is proposing it, and you're arguing a straw man of your own creation.
The Federal government controls who gets to be a citizen and it takes YEARS to accomplish. Local governments serve local issues and interests. Legal immigrants pay taxes both Federally and locally and follow local rules and laws and send their children to local schools.
We're a democracy, it's how we roll.
--note, I was responding to Haviland, not anon above
Comments
Is this about letting people
Is this about letting people who are legal residents or on visa vote? Or is this about letting illegal aliens vote?
FTA: "Rebecca Stone, a TM
FTA: "Rebecca Stone, a TM member and chairwoman of the School Committee, has a fall Town Meeting article that proposes letting legal immigrants – who aren’t citizens – vote in local elections."
LEGAL BILLS
I predict that once the town takes a look at what the costs of legal challenges to this will be, the plug will be pulled.
What is exactly the point of
What is exactly the point of citizenship if anyone can vote regardless of residency?
Citizenship is a system of rights AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Don't these people understand that granting rights, particularly to those without responsibilities, is a really bad idea?
What responsibilities do
What responsibilities do citizens have to the town of Brookline that non-citizen residents don't?
If non-citizens can vote, why
If non-citizens can vote, why can't non-residents? How long or what precentage of a year must someone live in an area in order to be eligible to vote? If I spend a night in a hotel once per year, does that give me the right to vote in town? What I own property but don't live there, can I vote in every town I own property in? Should everyone whom works in Brookline now get to vote in the town's elections as well?
Starting down this path creates all kinds of issues.
If non-citizens can vote, why
If non-citizens can vote, why can't non-residents?
Because they don't live there.
How long or what percentage of a year must someone live in an area in order to be eligible to vote?
I don't know, more than 50%? How do you determine residency for taxes, schools, or the many other things you need to determine residency? Why would this be different?
If I spend a night in a hotel once per year, does that give me the right to vote in town? What I own property but don't live there, can I vote in every town I own property in? Should everyone whom works in Brookline now get to vote in the town's elections as well?
No, none of that makes any sense, no one is proposing it, and you're arguing a straw man of your own creation.
This slope isn't actually very slippery at all.
Local vs Federal
The Federal government controls who gets to be a citizen and it takes YEARS to accomplish. Local governments serve local issues and interests. Legal immigrants pay taxes both Federally and locally and follow local rules and laws and send their children to local schools.
We're a democracy, it's how we roll.
--note, I was responding to Haviland, not anon above
Can also be a smart political
Can also be a smart political move. If you're the person to give someone voting rights, they and their friends might be more likely to vote for you.