What do three small, picturesque cities in Vermont—Burlingon, Montpelier, and Winooski—have in common with the nation’s capital? For one thing, they all allow non-citizens to vote.
Along with a few Maryland suburbs, and the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, these progressive enclaves are the only jurisdictions in the nation where non-citizens can take part in local elections and hold municipal office.
DC’s Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act has been under consistent attack from Congress and drawn a a lawsuit since the DC Council passed it in 2022; most recently, a measure to repeal the law sponsored by US Representative August Pfluger of Texas passed a House vote. The same thing happened last year, though the bill was never taken up in the Senate.
If DC wants to keep this l