By Ricardo Roura
17 Oct 2023, 10:15 AM EDT
The Santa Ana City Council, in Orange County, considered this Monday the possibility of including non-citizen votes on the November 2024 ballot.
Coalition Advocates Santa Ana Family for Fair Elections (SAFFE) are calling on the city’s City Council to approve the legally binding ballot measure.
“We urge the Santa Ana City Council to support the call of the city’s residents, families and youth to expand the right to vote to non-citizens by voting in favor of a measure that has teeth,” said Laura Pantoja, one of the leaders of the SAFFE coalition.
If approved by voters, the ordinance will be able to put into practice the expanded voting rights for residents who do not have US citizenship.
“The city must extend the right to vote to all residents, regardless of their immigration status. As immigrants, we also contribute to the city. Taxation without representation is unfair and undemocratic,” said Vietnamese Phuong Vu, a SAFFE member and resident for 27 years.
By taking this step towards non-citizen voting, the city would give a voice to residents who have contributed significantly to the community, but who have been excluded from the electoral process,” said Apolonio Cortés, leader of the SAFFE coalition and a resident for more than one year. 26 years old.
Currently, the proposed electoral resolution presented to the Santa Ana City Council by municipal staff It is only an advisory measure that would not modify the city statutes to extend the right to vote to non-citizen residents.
The Santa Ana Municipal Council will be studied at the meeting this Tuesday, October 17 the proposal to include the vote of residents who do not have US citizenship on the 2024 election ballot.
The meeting is scheduled for 5:15 pm at Santa Ana City Council Chamberat 22 Civic Center Plaza.