Court Rules on Blue State Law Giving 800,000 Non-Citizens The Right to Vote

Liberal and conservative judges in New York’s highest court struck down a controversial law that would have allowed nearly 800,000 noncitizens to vote in local elections, declaring voting rights belong exclusively to citizens.

Key Facts:

On Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals overturned a law passed in December 2021 by the New York City Council.
The law would have granted local voting rights to approximately 800,000 noncitizen “lawful permanent residents.”
The ruling was 6-1, with liberal Chief Judge Rowan Wilson writing the opinion.
Republicans challenged the law in court, asserting it violated New York’s state constitution.
Mayor Eric Adams allowed the bill to become law without signing it in January 2022.

The Rest of The Story:

In December 2021, the New York City Council approved legislation enabling noncitizen permanent residents to vote in local elections.

The measure, which Mayor Eric Adams allowed to become law in January 2022, faced immediate legal challenges.

Republican lawmakers and several voters argued the law violated New York State’s constitution, which specifically mentions citizens in its voting provisions.

The state’s highest court agreed.

Chief Judge Rowan Wilson emphasized that the constitution clearly restricts voting rights to citizens.

He warned that the city’s interpretation could theoretically allow even minors to vote, highlighting the absurdity of such an approach.

They tried hard to legalize non-citizen voting in New York and just failed.

Now, they will try to keep doing it illegally.

Voter ID is still banned in New York and California! https://t.co/CaweXZ4ASn

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 20, 2025

Commentary:

The judges got this one exactly right.

Citizenship is fundamental to voting—always has been, always should be.

Allowing noncitizens to cast ballots, even in local elections, threatens the very idea of what it means to belong to a nation.

Judge Wilson rightly pointed out that opening voting to noncitizens would set a dangerous precedent.

If local governments were free to redefine who can vote, what’s to stop even more absurd scenarios—like children participating in elections?

Common sense tells us this is a path we shouldn’t tread.

Voting is a privilege and responsibility uniquely tied to citizenship.

Citizens bear the weight of the nation’s decisions, from taxes to national security.

🚨BREAKING: Statement From NYS Conservative Party on Non-Citizen-Voting Court of Appeals Victory🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Godp1np62F

— Conservative Party of NYS (@cpnys) March 20, 2025

Extending the vote to those who have not formally joined our national community undermines this essential bond.

It’s alarming how easily some officials dismiss clear constitutional language.

Fortunately, the court reaffirmed the obvious: only citizens can legally vote.

This isn’t about exclusion—it’s about protecting the integrity of American elections.

America welcomes immigrants who wish to become citizens and fully embrace their rights and responsibilities.

But until they do, granting voting privileges prematurely dilutes the meaning of citizenship itself.

This ruling preserves democracy and common sense.

Those advocating for noncitizen voting aren’t promoting inclusivity—they’re attacking the foundations that keep this country stable and united.

The Bottom Line:

New York’s highest court rightly rejected an unconstitutional law allowing noncitizens to vote.

Voting must remain a privilege of citizenship to preserve democracy, unity, and common sense.

The court’s ruling safeguards both constitutional principles and America’s stability.