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New NYC Mayor Approves Voting For 800,000 Non-Citizens, Says It’s ‘The Best Choice’

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Eric Adams is the New York City mayor. He started his term on the right of Bill DeBlasio, former mayor.

Adams released a statement Saturday stating that he supports the rights of non-citizens living in the Big Apple to vote in local elections.

Today, Adams allowed the “Our City Our Vote” measure to become law, giving roughly 800,000 non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections.

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Mayor Says He Had ‘Some Concerns’

Adams issued a statement on the bill on Saturday saying, “I believe that New Yorkers should have a say in their government, which is why I have and will continue to support this important legislation.”

Adams continued, “

“While I initially had some concerns about one aspect of the bill, I had a productive dialogue with my colleagues in government that put those concerns at ease. I believe allowing the legislation to be enacted is by far the best choice, and look forward to bringing millions more into the democratic process.”

Back in December, the City Council approved the bill. At the time, several New York lawmakers, constitutional experts, and even uber-liberal DeBlasio had also voiced apprehension over the bill’s legalities.

Adams was unable to elaborate on Adams’s concerns.

Now, it’s the law of the city.

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Non-Citizens Voting, COVID Passports

While Eric Adams feels like letting those who are not American citizens vote is “the best choice,” he is singing a very different tune when it comes to COVID.

During an interview with ABC News, Adams stated that he would keep many of former mayor DeBlasio’s strict COVID restrictions, some of the harshest in the nation.

The city requires proof of vaccination – called “Key to NYC” – for a whole host of normal societal activities. You can go to bars or restaurants as well as bars and gyms.

Adams said, “We’re going to examine the numbers, if we feel we have to get to the place of making that mandatory, we’re going to do that but we’re encouraging them to do it now.”

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New York is Not the First

New York City is the first city in the country to allow non-citizens the right of vote. There are eleven towns in Maryland where non-citizens may vote in local elections, with two more in Vermont.

The mayor said that it brings many more voters to New York City’s polls. One in nine New York City citizens over the age of 18 are not New York City residents.

Ydanis Rodriguez, a former New York City Councilman introduced the bill just before he resigned and was appointed Transportation Commissioner by Mayor Adams.

The other side of this equation is Florida, Arizona, Colorado and Colorado which have all passed laws to prevent citizens from voting in local elections.