Fighting for an Equal Voice: Past and Present Struggle for Noncitizen Enfranchisement

Abstract

Voting rights and democratic participation should be expanded to noncitizens in order to preserve and strengthen our society. Over eleven percent of all U.S. residents are foreign born.' Approximately 4.6 million California residents, one-fifth of the state's adult population, are noncitizens.2 In twelve municipalities in California, noncitizens3 constitute a majority and in eighty-five cities, they make up more than one-quarter of the general population.4 Scholars view the political disparity between a growing disenfranchised people and the general population as volatile and detrimental to societal cohesion.5 In recent years, a growing number of cities have adopted policies to expand voting rights to immigrants, especially for noncitizens who are legal permanent residents (LPRs).6