New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is facing a lawsuit from the Republican National Committee (RNC) over a new law that allows noncitizens to vote in local elections.
In a press release, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said, “American elections should be decided by American citizens.”
“If Democrats can subvert elections this flagrantly in America’s largest city, they can do it anywhere. The RNC is suing to protect the integrity of our elections, and we stand ready to do the same wherever Democrats try to attack the basic security of your ballot,” she added.
Read the release below:
The RNC is suing to protect the integrity of our elections, and we stand ready to do the same wherever Democrats try to attack the basic security of your ballot. pic.twitter.com/LIAVsUaFWZ
— Ronna McDaniel (@RonnaMcDaniel) January 10, 2022
Over 800,000 noncitizens and “Dreamers” will be allowed to vote in local elections in New York City next year, unless a judge blocks the law.
As NBC News reports, Adams “allowed legislation to automatically become law Sunday.”
Noncitizens will not be allowed to vote in presidential or other federal elections.
With the law’s implementation, New York City will join over a dozen other towns in the U.S. that allow noncitizens to vote in municipal elections.
On Sunday, CNN’s Jake Tapper noted that Adams “called the bill problematic and expressed concern about giving a right to vote to non-citizens who have only been here for a short amount of time.”
“Why did you change your mind? And why is it acceptable for noncitizens to vote in an American election?” he asked.
Adams denied that he had changed his mind and explained that “one aspect of that I had a problem with and I thought was problematic, was the 30-day part, of being in the country for 30 days, was the place that I had questions.”
When asked if the new law would make a “mockery of the idea of American citizenship” and what he would say to immigrants who went through the citizenship process, the mayor responded, “Membership has its privileges. Being a member of what we call United States of America is a great privilege. I would tell them, keep doing it. Be encouraged.”