Leaders in Frederick, Maryland, Approve Voting by Non-Citizens in Local Elections

This is a total betrayal of the American citizens who live in this community. Pay close attention to who benefits.

The Frederick News-Post reports:

Aldermen approve non-citizen voting, representation by district, other charter changesResidents of Frederick who are non-U.S. citizens will be able to vote in elections for city officials, one of an array of charter changes the city’s aldermen approved Thursday night.Under the change, anyone at least 18 years old who can prove residency in the city and does not claim the right to vote in any other location may vote in city elections, regardless of their citizenship status.The aldermen also approved a variety of other changes to the city’s government, such as switching the name of the Board of Aldermen to the City Council, creating legislative districts for members to represent, and putting a limit on how many consecutive terms they can serve.The non-citizen voting measure passed on 4-1, with Alderman Kelly Russell opposed.Russell talked about her father’s immigration from Greece and his service in the U.S. Army that allowed him to become a citizen.She acknowledged that the issue is complex and emotional and said the American immigration system is damaged.But that’s an issue for the federal government to address, she said.Russell said she’s talked to many people who went through the process to obtain their citizenship and told her they felt allowing non-citizens to vote in city elections diminished their own citizenship.Alderman Ben MacShane said he was excited to support the change as a way to value and include everyone in the community.Rights and inclusion is not a zero-sum game, MacShane said. Extending rights to someone doesn’t diminish the rights of the person next to them, he said.Rights have always been earned through a fight, Alderman Derek Shackelford said.“Freedom has never been free. It’s always come with a cost and a price,” he said.

Tags: Democrats, Illegal Immigration, Maryland

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