What happened to American Citizenship?

AnnieA said:
I believe that for US citizens.
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Actually, it seems Purwell was right, that it was a grievance of the American colonists and part of the reason for the American Revolution. Ironic that a UK member knows more about the American Revolution LOL.

I read a little about it online and apparently it originated as a Right of Englishmen long before the revolution.

But for the topic of the thread with allowing non-citizens to vote, I found the below info in wikipedia:

"To become citizens of the United States, immigrants most often must be permanent residents for a period of time (usually 5 years).[88] Permanent residents must pay taxes on their worldwide income and, in most cases, cannot vote. However, throughout the 19th century, many states did allow immigrants to vote after they had declared their intention to become citizens. This was primarily because these new states were populated in large part by immigrants who had not yet attained citizenship. Throughout U.S. history, non-citizens have been allowed to vote in 40 U.S. states and territories.[89] As of 2005, non-citizens are allowed to vote in seven jurisdictions in the United States: Chicago and six towns in Montgomery County, Maryland.[90] As of 2021, both Montpelier and Winooski, Vermont allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections."
 

HoneyNut said:
... However, throughout the 19th century, many states did allow immigrants to vote after they had declared their intention to become citizens. This was primarily because these new states were populated in large part by immigrants who had not yet attained citizenship. Throughout U.S. history, non-citizens have been allowed to vote in 40 U.S. states and territories.[89] As of 2005, non-citizens are allowed to vote in seven jurisdictions in the United States: Chicago and six towns in Montgomery County, Maryland.[90] As of 2021, both Montpelier and Winooski, Vermont allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections."
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Bolded part makes sense. Allow people to vote who have started the process of citizenship.

Federal law only allows citizens to vote in federal elections. Apparently it's ultimately up to states to decide whether or not non-citizens can vote in local elections:

"As of March 2020, two state constitutions specified that noncitizens may not vote in state and local elections: Arizona's and North Dakota's. No state constitutions explicitly allowed noncitizens to vote in state or local elections.[2]"​
 
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At Federation in Australia the new constitution granted anyone who was eligible to vote is any state election the right to vote in federal elections. The states did not have uniform rules then and just one state, South Australia, permitted women to vote. Consequently the constitution gave all women the right, not only to vote, but to stand for political office from 1901. New Zealand gave women the right to vote earlier but not the right to be elected.

These days the states all follow the federal laws regarding voting franchise. We have just one electoral roll to maintain and it is used for federal, state and local government elections. Voting is mandatory but in effect all you have to do is turn up and get your name signed off. Voter suppression and voter fraud are never a significant problem.

In addition elections are always held on a Saturday when schools are empty and there are plenty of teachers and other public servants available to man the booths and count the ballots. We also have early voting, postal votes and absentee voting when, if you cannot vote in your own electorate, you can still vote by turning up somewhere else. Having just one electoral roll is what allows this to occur. A quick in and out and you are done - no waiting in a queue for hours in all weathers.
 
Warrigal said:
At Federation in Australia the new constitution granted anyone who was eligible to vote is any state election the right to vote in federal elections. The states did not have uniform rules then and just one state, South Australia, permitted women to vote. Consequently the constitution gave all women the right, not only to vote, but to stand for political office from 1901. New Zealand gave women the right to vote earlier but not the right to be elected.

These days the states all follow the federal laws regarding voting franchise. We have just one electoral roll to maintain and it is used for federal, state and local government elections. Voting is mandatory but in effect all you have to do is turn up and get your name signed off. Voter suppression and voter fraud are never a significant problem.

In addition elections are always held on a Saturday when schools are empty and there are plenty of teachers and other public servants available to man the booths and count the ballots. We also have early voting, postal votes and absentee voting when, if you cannot vote in your own electorate, you can still vote by turning up somewhere else. Having just one electoral roll is what allows this to occur. A quick in and out and you are done - no waiting in a queue for hours in all weathers.
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Wish we could do similar sensible things but voter fraud/voter suppression have become favorite (and sometimes very real on both counts) polarization tools in the US. There's tech in place to fairly ensure neither happen, but we won't likely ever see it implemented since both sides get real and perceived benefit as things stand. Very dangerous game and a big part of what makes me think the American experiment is gasping its last ...going to be what one oncologist I worked with characterized painful, prolonged deaths as "didn't die easy."
 

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