Green Bay Reporter

A plan in New York that would allow 800,000 non-citizens to vote has caught the attention of a Wisconsin legislator, who wants to make sure that the same thing doesn’t happen in the Badger State. 

According to The New York Times report, New York City has approved legislation that would allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, with more than 800,000 people eligible to cast ballots beginning in 2023. State Rep. Jim Steineke, a Republican from Kaukauna, wants an amendment to the state’s constitution to prohibit nonresidents from voting. 

“Just last week, New York City became the latest liberal city across the country to take steps to allow non-citizens the right to vote – something I just fundamentally disagree with,” Steineke said in a post on Twitter. “That’s why Sen. Roth and I are proposing an amendment to our state’s constitution to ensure that this cannot happen here in Wisconsin. Being an American citizen should mean something.”

The Times reported that New York City’s legislation has opponents up in arms, expressing concern that the measure will offer less incentive for legal residents to seek citizenship status, usurping the power of citizens. While Mayor Bill de Blasio has signaled that he won’t veto the legislation, he has questioned its legality. 

New York isn’t the first municipality to enact such legislation. According to Ballotpedia.org, there are 11 municipalities in Maryland that permit non-citizens to vote in local elections. San Francisco and two communities in Vermont also allow non-citizens to cast ballots in local races. Voting by non-citizens is banned by the constitutions of Arizona and North Dakota. 

According to data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there are about 13.6 legal residents living in the country who are not citizens. Of those legal residents, 60% live in California, New York, Texas or Florida, according to DHS data.