Proposal to Allow Non-citizens to Vote in Local Elections Introduced in the Legislature
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Category: Life

Proposal to Allow Non-citizens to Vote in Local Elections Introduced in the Legislature
Mar 12, 2007 -- 3:52 PM CDT
Abdi Aynte

http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1430

Four Twin Cities legislators introduced today in the Minnesota Legislature a constitutional amendment that would permit legal non-citizens to vote in local elections, the Pioneer Press reported.

Reps. Phyllis Kahn, Jim Davnie and Frank Hornstein of Minneapolis and Rep. Carlos Mariani of St. Paul want permanent residents who pay taxes to have a say in elections.

"I signed onto it because I believe it is important that people most affected by local decisions (such levels of fire protection) have some way to hold decision makers accountable," Mariani said. "These are folks who most likely will be full citizens at some point in time so this a good way to prepare them for that eventuality." He also said that there is a precedent for this kind of proposal.
Well why wouldn't they suggest this? These politicians have no sense of what it is or means to be an American anymore, so this is perfectly normal for them to want to dig votes out of the grave. When the majority of the population rejects you, your Party, or agenda and what you have to say it becomes top priority to try to "chase ambulances"
~Samantha

Should the proposal pass the House and the Senate, 2008 voters would be asked: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to allow local units of government to authorize permanent resident non-citizens to vote in local government elections?"

A St. Paul-based political group, Take Action Minnesota, first circulated the idea in literature used to screen candidates for the St. Paul City Council.

Undocumented immigrants are not included in the proposal. (Not yet, anyway)It would cover only permanent residents, people who are legally here and have resided in an area for a certain number of years.

The bill calls for a constitutional amendment, which would go before the voters.

The bill is unlikely to pass but will raise questions and is intended to bring attention to permanent residents. As to what? Are you threatening?? Are the locals to stand up in awe of your self-appointed power?? BAH!!! You already know your own bill doesn't stand a chance. Why waste tax payer dollars on something you know is shit??
Don't flatter yourself!

~Samantha

Sara Reller contributed to this report.