San Francisco to Consider 'Non-Citizen' Voting

[Kevin]

San Francisco to Consider 'Non-Citizen' Voting

By Doug Patton
Talon News
June 22, 2004

Non-citizens, including illegal aliens, would have the right to vote in San Francisco school board elections under a proposal headed for the city ballot this fall.

The San Jose Mercury News reported Monday that the goal of the proposed November ballot initiative is to involve more parents in their children's education by abolishing a state requirement that voters be U.S. citizens.

San Francisco has a large Asian population and a growing Hispanic community. Under the proposal, having a child in public school would be the only requirement to vote. The measure only permits voting in school board elections.

A California judge rejected a similar proposal in 1996. That measure would have allowed immigrants to vote in all municipal elections. The judge ruled that an amendment to the state constitution would be necessary to change the law.

If passed by San Francisco voters this fall, the statute would be the first of its kind in California. New York, Maryland, and the city of Chicago have passed similar laws.



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Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved

[krazy]

Makes perfect sense to me.

[AGDee]

I would say "it depends". Do these people pay taxes that contribute to the school funding?

I have a pet peeve because I work in the City of Detroit. Residents of the city pay a 3% income tax. Those who work in the city but don't live there, pay a 1 1/2% income tax but have no voting rights. I think if I pay taxes there, I should have a say in what happens with my tax money. I don't want a full vote, just a half vote. Count each non-resident tax payer as half a vote.

Taxation without representation sound familiar?

Dee

[Kevin]

In my state at least, schools are paid for mainly through property taxes. I'm not really sure if illegal aliens are able to actually own property, let alone pay taxes on it. My feeling (and it rhymes, so I'm going to give it its own special line) is :

If you don't pay, you don't get a say.

[AGDee]

A portion of your rent, if you rent, also goes to property taxes, it's just more indirect. In Michigan, you can claim a certain percentage of your rent as property tax on your income tax return. Then again, in Michigan, part of the sales tax pays for education, as does part of the lottery income for the state. This one definitely isn't cut and dried, and my first instinct was "no way, they're here illegally". I'm not sure how I would vote on such an issue!

Dee

[PhiPsiRuss]

Illegal aliens voting? This is insane.

[phigamucsb]

Only in San Francisco

[phigamucsb]

I think San Francisco wants to become its own country.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by phigamucsb
I think San Francisco wants to become its own country.

I think San Francisco wants to become its own planet.