Charter Commission Election Committee

CC Elections, 11-3-21, Legal Non-citizen Voting.pdf

Agenda

The Charter Commission Elections Committee has announced a public hearing on amending the City Charter to give voting right to non-citizens. Attached is the legal opinion rendered on this matter. Regardless of the legal opinion, the matter is being brought forward with the proposed language as stated below:

The right of all adult residents of Portland to vote in municipal elections and on municipal initiatives is established, regardless of citizenship status.

City officials will take all reasonable care to ensure that exercising this right does not allow non-citizen voters to violate federal or state laws, including providing translated or interpreted information for non-English speakers.

While the city's voter list is a matter of public record, city officials will not make public the citizenship status of any voter or provide information to any enforcement agency beyond what is on the public record.

To attend Elections Committee meeting, go to www.portlandmaine.gov/129/Agendas-Minutes

If you can not attend the meeting, submit your comments to charter@portlandmaine.gov