Next week, the New York City Council will vote on a bill that would allow non-citizens to register to vote in municipal elections. Republicans are preparing to challenge the bill if it is passed.
Republican party chairman Nick Langworthy said at a conference Thursday “We pledge action, legal or otherwise, any means necessary to stop this dangerous legislation from undermining our elections”.
“I thought we’d seen it all from Democrats in this state,” Langworthy added. He called the push “perhaps the worst idea out of New York City Democrats ever”.
If the bill were to become a law, it would allow over 800,000 non-citizens to vote in elections.
Noting that New York City is already a sanctuary city and the benefits that non-citizens have, Langworthy said the bill “was always the next step in the left’s plan to radically transform American for the worse”.
Langworthy also explained that the bill violates the constitutions of the U.S. and New York State. Voting “is expressly reserved for citizens of the United States of America,” he said.
The bill will give anyone with a green cards or work authorization that has been living in the city for at least 30 days prior to an election an opportunity to vote. Langworthy claims it will “allow foreign powers … the ability to influence U.S. elections”.
Mayor Bill de Blasio had once doubted the bill, but eventually said he would sign it if it reached his desk.
Another council member, David Carr, backed Langworthy and said “If we are not able to beat it in the council next week, we will beat it in the court”.