Massachusetts First

Several Massachusetts communities have passed local petitions allowing non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. Shutesbury is the most recent town to vote on such a measure at a special town meeting held on December 3, 2024.

Like other communities, including neighboring Leverett at the annual Town Meeting in spring 2023, voters will decide whether to allow “lawful permanent residents 18 years or older who reside in Shutesbury” to be registered to vote and be able to participate in town meetings, elections and actions, and serve on elected and appointed municipal boards, commissions and committees.

Some of the above municipalities filed accompanying bills with the Massachusetts Legislature to petition for or propose the extension of voting rights in municipal elections to non-citizens. Two statewide bills would cover all municipalities. The Legislature must pass these bills before they are implemented.

These bills reflect various efforts to allow non-citizens to participate in local elections, although they are still in the legislative process and have not yet been enacted into law.

It will be interesting to see if these petitions move forward or are stymied by waning sentiment in the face of the incoming Trump Administration. However, given the current “Resist” climate advertised by Governor Maura Healey and her cohorts, we may see an uptick in such efforts.

by Citizens for Truth Contributor

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Sources:

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1602585

https://onlycitizens.vote/massachusetts/

Boston Emerges As a New Frontier For Noncitizen Voting in Local Elections

https://www.hollistontownnews.com/2024/08/29/503304/holliston-officials-consider-home-rule-legislation-that-would-allow-non-u-s-citizen-residents-to-vote-in-municipal-town-elections-serve-in-elected-positions

http://suffrage-universel.be/us/usvoalmanewton.htm

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/65453/8e-Sponsor-Memo-Special-Act-Non-Citizen-Voting

Noncitizens allowed to vote in some local elections, spurring backlash from GOP

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/how-many-bills-proposing-non-c-ys1.Y0YnTkGSe0ffwgdhRw