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.