The League of Young Voters are currently gathering signatures to force a ballot initiative in November, which if passed, would allow non-citizens living in Portland, ME to vote in future municipal elections.
The group has until July 14th to collect 5,000 signatures. If the voters approve it, the new law would apply only to those in the country legally.
Portland is home to about 7,000 foreign nationals, mostly from Sudan and Somalia.
Will Everitt of the League of Young Voters told WCSH News: “They are here, they are going to our public schools, and the city gets federal dollars from that. So they count when it comes to getting that federal money, but they suddenly don't count in November.”
In a 7-5 vote, Portland’s Charter Commission recently rejected extending voting rights to non-citizens. However, only one member of the 12-person panel voiced the opinion that only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote in elections. Many of those who rejected it, said they simply wanted the voters to decide.
The following information was taken directly from the League of Young Voters' website:
“The League of Young Voters empowers young people nationwide to participate in the democratic process and create progressive political change on the local, state and national level – with a focus on non-college youth from low income communities and communities of color. The League makes political engagement relevant by meeting young people where they are, working on issues that affect their lives, and providing them with tools, training, and support to become serious catalysts for change in their communities.
Founded in 2003, the League has become one of the strongest youth organizations in the country fighting for progressive change.
Our long term strategy is to build an inspired, engaged and effective culture and community around youth participation. We're building permanent progressive youth-driven field and issue based campaigns that will build power to significantly impact local, state, and federal policy and elections nationwide. We expect it will take decades to achieve this scale, but we're in it for the long haul.”
In the past, the League of Young Voters has gone into county jails in an attempt to register voters.
If the ballot measure passes, Portland, ME would gain the dubious distinction as the only city in the country which officially allows non-citizens to vote.
Comments
What are these people THINKING?????
It's a brilliant and great plan if you hate America and Liberty.
Some immigrants might by good workers. Now that all our liberties are gone I am quite sure progressive government will want to take as much of their wealth as they can from them. Maybe even force them to pay union dues.
Progressives only protect the wealthy. It is called Social Justice. You see there are all these poor people that have to be helped and so the immigrants can be bled just like everyone else. Precious little ever makes it to help the poor so they remain in their poverty.
The only politicians they can elect are progressives so the new voting immigrants will make great slaves. Hey come to think of it is the US Constitution going to re-institute slavery? That will be fantastic.
Go For It! as long as you're accepted in Canada as the newest province; great way to get rid of snowe, and her sidekick as well as a bunch of lefty moonbeams.
I'm speechless.
Many seniors with grandchildren,etc., only get their "truth"from MSM television. But like American Patrol pointed out with the Tea Party rallies, even CNN and other media outlets are criminally lying when they say a few people came to protest Harry Reids, and Nancy Pelosi's treason at the searchlight rallies. Instead, as shown on the Internet, their were thousands of Americans. Tell your parents and grandparents the truth, as revealed by Net sources, about the lies and misrepresentations, purposely distributed against the citizenries best interests, on Main Stream Media.
I have a better ideal how about we deport The League of Young Voters to communist China where they will feel more at home with their nonsense and may I also suggest the change the name of their group to the The League of Young Marxist Idiots
Good god!!! Keep that group there in Maine, out here in Arizona it that would cause some serious problems....
Some "Americans" are this nations most vile enemies. Take the people doing what the above story says. For them, STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES, is a saying that fits well. East Coast morons, who claim to be educated, yet, have apparently never read about Californias experience with illegal immigration. Excuse me, I mean, bankrupt California's experience with illegal immigration.
It would be the young people. They have their heads so far up that
they can't even smell the coffee when mother brings it to them.
No none citizens voting in U.S. election ever!
Why should we be so surprised? We have permitted the NEA and their fellow radicals to indoctrinate the kids into the beleif that America is nothing special and in fact is something racist, oppressive, and evil, so why would they not think up a stunt like this?
What the heck is wrong with our young people? Did our education system fail this badly? People can vote when they become citizens and only then! If they don't have a stake in the country, then they have no reason to even CARE how they vote. I am taking up a petition drive to bring to a national vote the expulsion of Portland ME from the United States of America for un-american acts. Let them be a territory of Sudan or Somalia. See how well they do under foreign rule.
Somalia? Ever heard of Blackhawk Down?
Of course immigrants have a stake in what happens here: they live here. They pay taxes.
This outpouring of nasty comments about young people is bewildering to me. At least they're getting involved in the political process and are trying to do something!
There are many reasons why hundreds of thousands of hard-working, respectable long term legal residents cannot become citizens, but I assure lack of loyalty and affinity to this country is NOT one of them. If they pay taxes here, have families and live productive lives they should have at least a minimum level of control over how their local money is spent.
I often wonder how humanity has been able to progress as far as it has in spite of the beguiling voices of the opposition. We live in a global world and this is the natural progress of things.
As a Mainer, to me this is a "first" to be proud of. We're an immigrant nation, and whatever we can do to mainstream newcomers into helpful, healthy, contributing roles in our society should be welcomed.
This would be unconstitutional. It's in The Constitution that non-citizens are not allowed to vote. If people want to vote let them be in America LEGALLY with papers like the legal and naturalized citizens of the world's greatest nation, The United States of America!
Those who support this b.s. need to leave The US and never come back.
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