21 Dec 2011
New Haven mayor wants local voting rights for noncitizens
"DeStefano says that noncitizens, including undocumented immigrants,
already work and pay taxes in the city and that allowing them to vote in
municipal elections would encourage them to participate more in the
community. His office says that two dozen other states have seen similar
legislation and that many cities and towns allow for voting in local
elections, but the secretary of the state said it would require an
amendment to the state constitution for it to fly in Connecticut." - HuffPo, AP, Dec. 20, 2011.
[See generally, the Immigrant Voting Project. They note: "Historically, noncitizens have voted in local, state and federal elections in 40 states and federal territories. Currently, noncitizens
vote in seven jurisdictions in the United states, and another three
towns have passed local laws but await state enabling legislation to
implement. More than a dozen other cities are—or recently
have—considered restoring immigrant voting rights."