Tuesday, October 26, 2010

In what elections should noncitizens be allowed to vote?

In some cities across America, noncitizens are allowed to in local election. For example, noncitizens are allowed to vote in Chicago's municipal election. On November 2nd, voters in Portland, Maine and San Francisco, California would have the opportunity to decide whether on not they want to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. San Francisco's ballot would a low noncitizens vote in the school board election if they have children in school.

When I was a student at UMSL, I ran for Student Senate with my Korean roommate. He was not a citizen of this country at the time but he was a student; therefore, he was allowed to vote in the campus' election just like any other student on campus. With that in mind, San Francisco might want to consider how they can allow all parents, wether or no they are citizens of this country, to vote in school board election without involving the local election board. They could set something up within the schools where all parents are eligible to vote.