NEW YORK (AP) — New York state’s top court put an end Thursday to New York City’s effort to empower noncitizens to vote in municipal elections.
In a 6-1 ruling, the Court of Appeals said “the New York constitution as it stands today draws a firm line restricting voting to citizens.”
New York City never actually implemented its 2022 law. Supporters estimated it would have applied to about 800,000 noncitizens with legal permanent U.S. residency or authorization to work in the nation. The measure would have let them cast a ballot for mayor, city council and other local offices, but not for president, Congress or state officials.
State Republican officials quickly sued over the law, and state courts at every level rejected it.
Republicans hailed Thursday’s ruling from the state’s highest court, called the Court of Appeals.
“Efforts by radical Democrats on the New York City Council to permit noncitizen voting have been rightly rejected,” NYGOP Chair Ed Cox said in a statement. The Republicans’ attorney, Michael Hawrylchak, said they were pleased that the court recognized the state constitution’s “fundamental limits” on voter eligibility.
The city Law Department said it respected the decision.