Common Sense and Constitutionality Still Exists in New York

In a surprising ruling, the New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in the bluest state, ruled 6-1 that the New York City law, which allowed “Green Card” holding non-citizens the right to vote, and passed by the City Council in late 2021, violated the State Constitution.

 

“Whatever the future may bring, the New York Constitution as it stands today draws a firm line restricting voting to citizens,” the opinion states.

Supporters of the now struck-down law had argued that noncitizens here legally should be able to vote because they pay taxes and make contributions to their communities.

But Republicans in the City Council and State Legislature hailed it as a victory for the rule of law and common sense.

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, in a statement issued shortly after the decision, argued that city leaders should concentrate on getting citizen New Yorkers to vote.

“With one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country, our city needs to do more to engage working people who feel shut out of the process,” he said.

It is nice to see that common sense still exists in some levels of the New York State Judicial System.