In Vermont, Winooski and Montpelier allow non-citizen residents to vote in local elections. Both cities undertook a complicated process to gain that right for their non-citizen residents. Burlington will consider a question to approve non-citizen voting at Town Meeting Day on March 7.
So, what is non-citizen voting? Should other Vermont cities consider non-citizen voting?
The League of Women Voters of Vermont (LWVVT) (www.lwvofvt.org) is sponsoring a free program on non-citizen voting at the Fletcher Free Library, 235 College Street, Burlington (www.fletcherfree.org) on Saturday, February 18 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Fletcher Room. Town Meeting TV will live stream the program on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Z01ZXiE2KRk.
Marguerite Adelman, LWVVT Board member and Chair of its Non-Citizen Voting Committee will present information about the two Vermont towns that have All Resident voting, historical facts on the subject, non-citizen voting at the state and national levels, and arguments for and against non-citizen voting. The program will be educational in nature, providing time for questions and discussion.
Cosponsors include Immigration Justice Team of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Chittenden Asylum Seekers Assistance Network, Fletcher Free Library, and Town Meeting TV.
Currently, LWVVT is monitoring non-citizen voting across the United States, reaching out to help non-citizens register to vote in Winooski and Montpelier, and presenting educational programs across Vermont on this topic.
Questions about the program can be directed to: league@lwvofvt.org.