Staten Island Pols Call On Mayor Adams To Withdraw Legal Appeal For Non-Citizen Voting In NY

As Migrant Crisis Rocks City, Staten Island Elected Officials Call on the Adams Administration to Withdraw Non-Citizen Voting Appeal  

Staten Island Elected Officials Warn of Migrants’ Right to Vote in Upcoming Appellate Court Hearings

Staten Island, New York – As New York City and the nation grapples with an unprecedented migrant crisis, arguments are scheduled to be heard Friday by the New York State Appellate Court regarding the City’s non-citizen voting law. Staten Island elected officials joined together to urge the Adams administration to withdraw the appeal.

“We have maintained from day one that the City Council legislation that allowed non-citizens the right to vote was unconstitutional and wrong,” said Borough President Fossella. “That is why we went to court, and fortunately prevailed at the trial level. We feel even more strongly today that our position is the right position. The eyes of America will be on New York as the crush of over 70,000 migrants in our city adds a heightened level of concern than existed even one year ago. New York State law is clear, non-citizens do not have the right to vote. And in pushing this appeal, in the middle of this crisis, against any justifiable reason, many will be left with the impression that lax border security is part of a broad agenda to increase voter rolls. And that’s an outright shame.”

New York City is now urging the Biden administration and Washington lawmakers to expedite all asylum seekers and migrants the right to work. If the Appellate court sides with the City Council and these migrants are permitted to work in our city, they could also automatically become eligible to vote.

Fossella added, “If the proponents of the legislation have it their way, how would we say the migrants can’t vote but anyone else who is a non-citizen can?”

In theory, the addition of 70,000 migrant voters in a mayoral or City Council election, can drastically alter the outcome. In the last mayoral primary, for example, 7,000 votes was the margin of victory. In many City Council primary elections, the outcomes can be determined by a few hundred votes. This is one of the serious consequences of allowing migrants to come into this city.

City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli:

“Not only New Yorkers, but people across this country should be alarmed by the potential outcome of this case,” said City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli. “If the Appellate Court overturns the lower court ruling and allows foreign nationals to vote in our elections, it will further embolden the radicals who want to erase all national borders, undermine the rule of law, and destroy the value of United States citizenship. The New York State Constitution is absolutely clear and unequivocal on this issue: voting is reserved for citizens. Any legislation that seeks to change that fundamental right is illegal.”

City Council Member David Carr:

“Only American citizens should be allowed to vote in this country,” said Councilmember David Carr. “The trial court was completely right when they ruled New York City could not extend voting rights to noncitizens, and I hope the Appellate Division recognize the irrefutable logic of our case. I was proud to vote against this in the Council and prouder still to be continuing this fight in the courts.”

NYS Assemblyman Michael Tannousis:

“From the very beginning of the lawsuit, we have maintained that the sacred right to vote is only bestowed on American citizens as per New York State law,” said Assemblyman Michael Tannousis. “As the son of immigrants that came to this country legally and worked tirelessly to become citizens, I understand the importance of this sacred right.

The idea that a person can move to New York City and register to vote after 30 days is preposterous and ripe for fraud,” Assemblyman Tannousis added. “With the current migrant crisis bringing 70,000 migrants into our city and with the City of New York lobbying for them to receive work permits, we now run the risk of compromising local elections and diluting the votes of American citizens. For this reason, we ask the Adams administration to withdraw the appeal.”   

NYS Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo:

“The New York State Constitution is clear as day – non-citizens cannot vote in our elections,” said Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo. “This blatantly unconstitutional law was rightfully struck down and it is unfathomable that the City would appeal a ruling on legislation that intends to dilute the voices of its own citizens.”

Devaluing citizenship will allow those with no stake in New York to decide how our city is run,” Assemblyman Pirozzolo added. “This law would strip New York City citizens of elected officials that represent their values, a violation of every principal our country was founded on. I join Borough President Fossella & my elected colleagues in calling on Mayor Adams’ administration to cease the appeals process immediately.”

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NYS Assemblyman Michael Reilly:

“Irresponsible policymaking by New York City Democrats has contributed to the dumpster fire that is the culmination of the Biden administration’s failed border agenda,” said Assemblyman Michael Reilly. “City officials must end their defense of this dangerous and unconstitutional law that would allow more than 800,000 non-citizens, in addition to the 70,000 undocumented migrants currently inhabiting our city, to vote in our local elections. Failing to do so will only make matters worse.”

NYS Senator Andrew Lanza:

“NYC Democrat policies are wrecking our State and they seek to maintain power buying the votes of people who are not American citizens,” said Senator Andrew Lanza. “They despise our Constitution and demean the rights of our citizens. I join BP Fossella and fellow Republicans in the fight to ensure that only American citizens may vote in our elections.”

City Councilmember Joann Ariola:

“The right to vote is not some kind of party favor to be handed out freely to anyone who requests it. It must be reserved exclusively for citizens of this country,” said Councilmember Joann Ariola. “Allowing anyone who has spent a mere thirty days in this country to have the right to vote denigrates the integrity of our entire election system. I implore the mayor to withdraw his appeal, and end this assault on election integrity and the democratic system we all hold dear.”

City Councilmember Robert Holden:

“Noncitizen voting goes against the principles enshrined in our Constitution, and it is disappointing to see the city appealing a ruling that upheld this fundamental truth,” said Councilmember Robert Holden. “Voting is a sacred privilege reserved for citizens, earned through the legal process of citizenship that millions of immigrants have respected and embraced throughout our nation’s history. The city should withdraw their appeal immediately.”

City Councilmember Inna Vernikov:

“We are a country of immigrants, and I am proud to be both an immigrant and a naturalized American citizen,” said Councilmember Inna Vernikov. “Non-citizen voting is part of an alarming trend that erodes the distinction and meaningfulness of U.S Citizenship.”

City Councilmember Vickie Paladino:

“The idea that we’re continuing to debate noncitizen voting is insane,” said Councilmember Vickie Paladino. “Our constitution is crystal clear on this, and a court affirmed it — only citizens are eligible to vote in New York. That Democrats continue to push this grossly unconstitutional and unpopular scheme speaks to their unapologetic radicalism. That they dare to try this in the midst of a migrant crisis which already threatens to bankrupt our city speaks to their naked political ambition above all.

New Yorkers deserve far better than to have their right to vote rendered virtually meaningless by allowing individuals who’ve resided here for 30 days to decide our elections. It’s an insult to all New Yorkers, especially those who worked hard to achieve citizenship legally. Noncitizen voting cannot be allowed to become our law, period.”

United States Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis:

“There is nothing more important than preserving the integrity of our election system,” said Congresswoman Malliotakis. “The government should be working to create more trust in our elections, not less. As New York State and federal law clearly state, the right to vote is a sacred right given only to United States citizens. The Mayor’s push to appeal the State Supreme Court’s decision is reckless and cynical, particularly as he incentivizes mass migration by providing free housing and other services. I join my colleagues in calling on the Mayor to withdraw this effort that would dilute the voices of American citizens and forever change our city as we know it.”

Banner Image: Mexican people. Image Credit – Barbara Zandoval