Denial of noncitizen vote
mobilizes petition drive
By Tom Bell tbell@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND — The city's Charter Commission voted 7-5 Thursday against a proposal to give voting rights to noncitizens, but the issue is hardly dead. A petition drive is under way.
Immediately after the vote, a group of young leaders in Portland's immigrant community and members of the League of Young Voters formed a 10-member petition committee, the first step required for taking out papers for a petition drive.
The committee must gather about 5,100 signatures to get the issue on the ballot in November.
Portland would be the first municipality in Maine to grant voting rights to resident aliens. The charter change would require noncitizens to prove they are legal residents to get their names on the city's voting rolls. They could not vote in state or federal elections.
While noncitizens cannot sign the petitions that will circulate, they will help distribute them throughout the city, said Will Everitt, director of the League of Young Voters.
There is increasing enthusiasm among immigrants for the effort to let noncitizens vote in city elections, particularly among young people, said Alfred Jacob, a Sudanese-American who is on the petition committee.
There are about 7,000 immigrants in Portland, many of whom can't vote because of language barriers and the long and cumbersome citizenship process, Jacob said. "How can you live in a place were you have no voice?" he said. "You need a chance to participate."
The Charter Commission voted after a debate about whether giving noncitizens voting rights could withstand a legal challenge. City Attorney Gary Wood told the commission that there is ambiguity in state law, and that the Maine Supreme Judicial Court would ultimately decide the issue.
For some commissioners, including Tom Valleau and Jim Cohen, uncertainty about the proposal's legality played a key role in their decision to reject it.
"I think we'd be making a misstep if we put this issue on the ballot -- legally shaky as it is," Valleau said.
Others, including Commissioner Jim Gooch, think there is a decent chance that the court would support the change. If commissioners think it's the right thing to do, Gooch said, they should not let legal uncertainty stand in the way.
Commissioner Nathan Smith, who voted "no," said it would be better if the question appeared on the ballot as the product of a petition drive, rather than through the "top-down" approach of the commission.
During the public hearing that preceded the commission's debate, Barbara Campbell Harvey of Portland said that immigrants who want to vote should become citizens.
"If you want to vote, put your hand over your heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance," she said.
Jacob, who will circulate petitions, told commissioners that the city's immigrant population is growing, and that children from immigrant families make up half of the enrollment in some Portland schools.
He said immigrants love the city and want to help shape it. Because many can't vote, he said, city officials have no reason to listen to them as constituents.
Jacob said the 12-member Charter Commission is an example of just that. "You don't see any minorities sitting among you guys right now," he said.
Commissioners Cohen, Valleau, Smith, Richard Ranaghan Jr., Pamela Plumb, John Spritz and Naomi Mermin voted "no."
Commissioners Gooch, Ben Chipman, Anna Trevorrow, Robert O'Brien and Linda Davis voted "yes."
The commission plans to issue a preliminary report in May and a final set of recommendations in July. It has already decided to ask voters in November to change the city charter to establish a popularly elected mayor.
Although that was the main issue during the campaign last year to select members of the commission, it has raised little controversy or public interest since the panel began meeting.
The issue of granting voting rights to noncitizens has attracted the most public attention -- and emotion. The number of immigrants attending the meetings has grown each time the commission has discussed it. On Thursday, 20 of the 26 people at the meeting were immigrants.
After the meeting, some said they were angry and felt belittled by the way some of the commissioners talked about them.
Mohammmed Dina, 24, a Somali-American who is a student at the University of Maine, said he was saddened by the vote. "They ignored part of the community," he said.
Staff Writer Tom Bell can be contacted at 791-6369 or at:
tbell@pressherald.com
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67 COMMENTS
Hyacinth said...
If non-citizens want to vote, then they should become American citizens FIRST. It doesn't matter "how many" of their children are in public schools and etc. If the non-citizen parents want to vote on city and school matters, they need to become U. S. citizens FIRST. If they don't want to do that, then they absolutely should not be allowed to vote. If they don't like that, then that's too bad. My immigrant ancestors didn't come here "demanding and whining," like so many of the present-day immigrants do. My ancestors came here and then became American citizens, and THEN they were allowed to vote. Why should the present-day non-citizens be the exception? Sick of their whining and demanding that everyone cater to them!
March 12, 2010 at 12:38 AM Report abuse
dcl4500 said...
Have to be a citizen to vote. No discussion needed.
March 12, 2010 at 12:51 AM Report abuse
AXeL said...
This has already been overwhelmingly rejected by The People. Bring on your idiotic referendum. People also signed petitions to bring a referendum to ban Dihydroxymonoxide, which sounds positively poisonous until you figure out that it's WATER!
March 12, 2010 at 3:25 AM Report abuse
reddevil974 said...
this is stupid not a citizen no vote ......... end of story petition all you want try and grow your base so what i fought for this country for its citizens rights not for some non american to be able to vote
March 12, 2010 at 3:38 AM Report abuse
heyjoe said...
Another case of wanting something for nothing...Come to my door and I'll tell you to take a hike...
March 12, 2010 at 4:17 AM Report abuse
UofA said...
Jacob is upset because he can't vote where he lives. Simple answer is return to your homeland and vote were it is legal. In the meantime, follow American rules and customs. And for the dude going to USM that is disappointed in the council's vote....I am upset that 5 votes were cast for this stupid request. I wonder if Dennis Bailey has anything to do with this?
March 12, 2010 at 4:29 AM Report abuse
cleverdav said...
HOW STUPID! ONLY CITIZENS ARE ENTITLED TO VOTE ON ANYTHING.
March 12, 2010 at 4:58 AM Report abuse
Felix said...
"There are about 7,000 immigrants in Portland, many of whom can't vote because of language barriers and the long and cumbersome citizenship process, Jacob said. "How can you live in a place were you have no voice?" he said. "You need a chance to participate."-pph WRONGO!!!! FIRST YOU GET A REAL JOB. THEN YOU PAY YOUR WAY, INCLUDING AT MAINE MED'S ER. THEN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT GAVE YOU REFUGE WITH VOLUNTEERISM. WHILE YOU STUDY YOUR KEISTER OFF TO BECOME A CITIZEN. AND THEN!!!!!!! YOU GET TO VOTE. GET WITH THE PROGRAM OR GET OUT OF MAINE.
March 12, 2010 at 6:00 AM Report abuse
Gary said...
These immigrants came here from countries with no civil rights to speak of. We support many of them, educate their children, pay for medical treatment, and on and on. Very demanding for people that fled their own countries to escape being crapped on, aren't they? No U.S. citizenship, no vote. That simple.
March 12, 2010 at 6:24 AM Report abuse
PAJ said...
7000? And of the 7000 how many have already become citizens? I bet more than half. If they don't speak the language then how are they going to read and how many languages will Portland have to have on a ballot? I too am surprised 5 voted yes, this is a bigger decision than Portland. But I will say if this gets on the June ballot it'll get Portlanders to the polls.
March 12, 2010 at 7:04 AM Report abuse
MainenCrisis said...
HIlarious, they can't even vote for their own petition....LOL!
March 12, 2010 at 7:35 AM Report abuse
cablegirl said...
How about going back to your homelands and try to make a difference there???I find it very alarming that 1/2 of the students enrolled in Portland schools are immigrants, when are we going to stand up and say enough is enough??? Most of these refugees couldnt read the ballot anyway.
March 12, 2010 at 7:38 AM Report abuse
Dan said...
Non-citizens vote? Not in my lifetime.
March 12, 2010 at 7:46 AM Report abuse
Dan said...
Non-citizens vote? Not in my lifetime.
March 12, 2010 at 7:48 AM Report abuse
Badoog said...
Can I go to Mogadishu and vote? If the answer is "no" then why would you expect anything different in Portland?
March 12, 2010 at 7:56 AM Report abuse
DavidS said...
Agree with the previous posters. If you are not a citizen you should not be able to vote at any level. If you don't like it become a citizen. I don't remember any of the immigrants coming through Ellis Island asking for voting rights and paperwork in their language. Learn the language and EARN your citizenship and your right to vote nothing will be given to you.
March 12, 2010 at 7:57 AM Report abuse
Jackemy said...
It is telling that the first Sudanese immigrant running for legislative office in Portland and Maine is a Republican. The immigrant community is learning that the false promises of the democrats only leads to generational poverty, malaise, segregation and dependency on the government.
March 12, 2010 at 7:58 AM Report abuse
MarkHB said...
Seeing as this is really the first truly divided vote the Commission has had (almost everything else being either unanimous or with Ranaghan alone in opposition), the article should have included who voted which way! If I had to guess (and I haven't watched all of the meeting from last night yet), I'd say those in favor were Trevorrow (state Green Party chair and the person who brought it up), Gooch (a Democrat who was supported by John Anton, a Green), Ben Chipman (county Green Party chair), Robert O'Brien (represents the West End and probably got a lot of feedback on it), and Laurie Davis (Dist. 3 but who essentially likened it to the 19th Amendment last time they met).
March 12, 2010 at 8:11 AM Report abuse
badjuju said...
Haha, friggin immigrants.
March 12, 2010 at 8:12 AM Report abuse
Jawte said...
We will allow the vote when BO changes the US to USSA
March 12, 2010 at 8:31 AM Report abuse
golf said...
We do not allow voteing rights to people that are noncitizens. If you want to vote go back to your tribe in Africa.
March 12, 2010 at 8:33 AM Report abuse
jude said...
No small task for non-citizens to get 5000 signatures form citizens on petitions. But if they actually got it on the ballot, we'd see the highest turnout in Portland election history.
March 12, 2010 at 8:48 AM Report abuse
Aquinnah said...
Since when does it make sense to let people vote simply because they've decided that becoming a citizen is too inconvenient? www.eightfits.blogspot.com
March 12, 2010 at 8:57 AM Report abuse
august1 said...
I find it odd that someone that wants that voice does not want to do the "leg" work in becoming a citizen b/c its to cumbersome? That just proves people want it handed to them instead of doing the leg work. Its a shame, earn that right and become a citizen if it's that important. I just don't understand people.
March 12, 2010 at 10:12 AM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
If anyone needs further proof that portland is anti-American, well here it is! How can you even consider the notion of NON-CITIZEN voting rights? What the hell is in the water in portland to even allow such ignorance? Exactly what stake do these NON-CITIZENS have in American Governance? They fail to take the necessary steps to become citizens, why should we, as citizens allow them to vote? The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights reflect the United States founders' desire for individual freedom and their opposition to the centralization of power. If you allow NON-CITIZENS to vote, then you might just as well throw out the 14th Amendment! Liberal, democrat prosessivism never fails to shock me!
March 12, 2010 at 10:12 AM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
United States Constiution Amendment 15 - Ratified 2/3/1870. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. NOTICE THE WORD **CITIZEN**! portland liberals have gone too far this time! I am sick and tired of these liberal progressive democrats destroying our country, trampling on citizen rights, and devouring every moral ethic we have! Stand up people...if you dont, democrtats will destroy us!
March 12, 2010 at 10:23 AM Report abuse
null said...
The problem is suggested that these people consume so many services (social, educational, etc.) that they feel left out of the planning and distribution of these freebies. CRAZY. Go through the process and become citizens. Maybe stop using so many services until you do.
March 12, 2010 at 11:39 AM Report abuse
Portlander20 said...
The Charter Commission rejected this. No need for a petition. Do these people realize the cost it would entail to have ballots that would have to be printed in many languages, interpreters, etc. Portland cannot afford anything like this. It's a federal law - to vote become a citizen!
March 12, 2010 at 12:23 PM Report abuse
cccheese said...
No vote?, then no taxes, right?. Remember the "No taxation without representation" demands of our founding fathers? Can't have it both ways folks.
March 12, 2010 at 12:32 PM Report abuse
Portcitylive said...
CCheese, Non-citizens come to Portland all the time, pay taxes on things even stay awhile, they are called Tourists and they don't vote here. If you want tot help shape the direction of a community then become a citizen and vote. My Irish Great-grandparents came here and did the work to become citizens. If they can do it so can you.
March 12, 2010 at 1:22 PM Report abuse
Denny said...
You know when we messed up? We messed up when we allowed these welfare-sucking non-citizens to even THINK they should be able to vote.
March 12, 2010 at 2:09 PM Report abuse
DeathCultt said...
Denny said it best in few words, evryone else said it good 2.Citizen = vote.
March 12, 2010 at 2:30 PM Report abuse
Jack said...
What a bunch of hooey!Now we'll all go in a knee jerk reaction to this.This is codswallop and balderdash.
March 12, 2010 at 2:50 PM Report abuse
jake007 said...
Oh boy...here comes ACORN and the ACLU. The horses are out of the barn. Caveat Emptor.
March 12, 2010 at 2:58 PM Report abuse
ZW51ZmZpc2VudWZm said...
"Maine lawmakers are on the verge of enacting a law barring importation of firewood from other states. "The House of Representatives on Thursday enacted the bill by a 136-0 vote." "Destruction of trees by those insects has the potential to impact wood-products industries that employ thousands of Mainers." Now I know that these immigrants are not "bugs", however we are stopping the importation of them so that they don't effect industries that employ thousands of Mainers. I ask you what is the difference? These immigrants keep coming and coming effecting our industries that employ thousands of Mainers. Yet we still pay for their medical and housing. Now they feel that they have "earned" the right to vote. Simple rules to live by.....if you don't like it then leave!!! Obviously they left where they came from because they didn't like it there, will these immigrants ever be happy? When is enough going to be enough!!!!
March 12, 2010 at 3:01 PM Report abuse
jarhead12 said...
The counscil will havde to go over these petions with a fine tooth comb, talk about an opportunity to cheat the system since the immigrants can't sigh the petition, yet I bet manyb will.
March 12, 2010 at 3:08 PM Report abuse
ZW51ZmZpc2VudWZm said...
How about a little bit of appreciation!!! I have just found out that the high school that my son will be attending next year is forced to due away with certain subjects and athletic activities due to lack of funding. Maybe it's because that "funding" now is being used to support most of these immigrants that are non-citizens and feel that it is to much work to become one. A simple "THANK YOU" would suffice!!!
March 12, 2010 at 3:18 PM Report abuse
Hipupchuck said...
Well the Supreme Court said foreign corporation can use unlimited funds to influence our elections, what the hell, let foreigners vote too, our leaders gave the country away. Pretty soon we'll be paying taxes to Somalia.
March 12, 2010 at 5:41 PM Report abuse
DasBoot said...
Anybody that signs that petition shouldn't be allowed to vote either. Do it right or get out.
March 12, 2010 at 6:57 PM Report abuse
splarry said...
I was born in this country, that gives me the right to vote. My great grandparents came to this country and became naturalized citizens that gave them the right to vote. End of story!
March 12, 2010 at 8:08 PM Report abuse
NH said...
No citizen, no vote. Period. But this is what happens when you keep giving everything to immigrants on a silver platter. Give 'em an inch, they'll take a yard.
March 12, 2010 at 8:14 PM Report abuse
freerightman said...
portland need to focus the attention on liberal nuts that wrote the bill. boot'em out!
March 12, 2010 at 8:39 PM Report abuse
fuzzball said...
In a year or two, if Obama gets his way, he will have granted amnesty to the 20-30 million illegals who will then be allowed to vote and guarantee a far left strangle hold on D.C. At this point allowing non-citizens the right to vote will be a mute point. Get your guns and ammo while you can.
March 12, 2010 at 8:39 PM Report abuse
freerightman said...
free health care right to vote Whats next free college? Oh they already get that.
March 12, 2010 at 8:50 PM Report abuse
shouldbe said...
What could be better than Portland being run by Somalis, Sudanese and other minority aliens!!! They can show us how they made their countries so great and successful. Not to mention Portland is already so much better thanks to them!!!RIGHTTTTTTTTTTTTT
March 12, 2010 at 9:31 PM Report abuse
blackgold said...
OK, YOU DONT PAY TAXES! YOU ARE NOT A US CITIZEN! YOU DO NOT VOTE! END OF STORY! AND YES I AM YELLING!!
March 13, 2010 at 1:02 AM Report abuse
justducky said...
language barriers and the long and cumbersome citizenship process, how about you go some place where you understand the native language and can vote, problem solved
March 13, 2010 at 5:38 AM Report abuse
justducky said...
Remember the five who voted for this come time for reelection !!!
March 13, 2010 at 5:43 AM Report abuse
BillyFiske said...
cccheese said... "No vote?, then no taxes, right?. Remember the "No taxation without representation" demands of our founding fathers? Can't have it both ways folks." Great cccheese. I own property in Portland but am not a resident. Guess I can vote too, afterall I pay taxes. I also have some income from Massachusetts and Rhode Island and pay income tax to them. I can vote there too. I am going to be busy.
March 13, 2010 at 8:15 AM Report abuse
biddguy said...
What's this country coming to? We need to fight back. My grandfather came from Canada and he wasn't allowed to vote until he became a citizen. I have many friends who came from Canada who had to go thru the process. This is what you get when people from lawless societies come here. They think they can just trampled on what 23 hold sacred. This is why we have laws.
March 13, 2010 at 8:27 AM Report abuse
gitoverit said...
Why is the Portland city council wasting time with this idiotic idea? The constitution of the State of Maine is very clear about who has the right to vote and who doesn't. Citizens only! The council should be ashamed for letting this go so far. How much more time and energy is going to be wasted?
March 13, 2010 at 8:35 AM Report abuse
TTG said...
Seriously-they are not satisfied with what is given to them-they now want to participate in deciding how much is taken from the citizens and given to them? Go pound sand. We already have enough welfare bums that are able to vote their share of the trough,we don't need any more.
March 13, 2010 at 9:25 AM Report abuse
trisailer said...
Everyone needs to take a deep breath and ask, what do they really want that they think that the vote will provide them. I don't think that noncitizens should vote, but they should have a voice and that is probably what they want. You have to give them credit for learning the process. Lets not forget the the court just gave the green light for corporations to use money to influence elections. And let's not forget how few legal voters actually do vote. We have to find a way to embrace these people and include them in the community which after all is really what they want. If we isolate them we will pay and pay. Love it or leave it remarks have never been helpful.
March 13, 2010 at 10:12 AM Report abuse
Mainedog said...
Non-citizen equals non-voter! You want the rights of an American become an American
March 13, 2010 at 11:06 AM Report abuse
MyVan said...
How much more progressive lunacy do you need people ?
March 13, 2010 at 12:49 PM Report abuse
NickName123 said...
people want noncitizen voting, people want same-sex marraige, people want casinos, people want loud motorcycles, people want high taxes, people want windmills, people want legal suicide, people want to ban logging, people want.... - - - it is a constant tug-of-war to define who/what is the Maine community - the Maine personality....different people want to redefine it to their preferences... well I WANT Maine to be a low tax, low cost, low crime & family friendly work & vacation locale. I WANT Maine NOT to be Californicated. Liberals/Progressives/Socialists - feel free to move away to Mass or Cal....
March 13, 2010 at 2:00 PM Report abuse
SacoSam said...
trisailer - we do have a process for including immigrants into the community....it's called naturalization. Attempting to change the rules because that process is just "to hard" shows a total disregard for the society in which they proclaim they want to integrate.
March 13, 2010 at 2:16 PM Report abuse
SacoSam said...
When I was a kid I thought it terribly unfair that I did not have a voice in regards to the legal drinking age. I promised myself that I would vote to change the law so future generations would not have the same problem. When I became of age, I was mature enough to understand why kids don't vote. When the immigrants of today become citizens, they too will understand why things are the way they are.
March 13, 2010 at 2:25 PM Report abuse
Chew said...
The simple fact that the Charter Comission could not clearly see the problems inherent with lowering the standards established by our constitution tells me we have a severe shortage or people with actual leadership abilities in Portland. Regardless of any good intentions, the right to vote is for citizens. It used to be that people immigrating here would glady do the work necessary to become citizens and were usually very proud when they could achieve that goal. I'm all for people having a voice and an opinion, and I'm all for having a healthy immigrant population, but to lessen the standards established by our founders because people today do not want to put in the work to become citizens is an insult to all, especially those people who have taken the time and effort to become naturalized citizens.
March 13, 2010 at 3:49 PM Report abuse
trisailer said...
You might want to brush up on your reading comprehension skills. I said I didn't think they should get to vote but they should be listened to. I know the immigration process well. You have to live in the US for 5 years before you can even apply and then it is not a done deal. If you do it your self the cost is about $1500 and if you hire a immigration lawyer its much more. I think that one of the hardest things to adjust to for immigrants is the total lack of community in the US. Here it is dog eat dog, sink or swim, eat or be eaten. You better get used to it because there is going to be a wave of refugees from Iraq and Afganistan comming after we leave. Remember, all the refugees from SE Asia? they came after the war ended. It won't be long before you redneck white guys will be in the minority so you better be nice to them.
March 13, 2010 at 7:15 PM Report abuse
trisailer said...
Every immigrant that ever came here came for one reason, economic opportunity. None of them expected to have to change their traditions and most never did during the first generation. Most never found the economic opportunity either.
March 13, 2010 at 7:22 PM Report abuse
SacoSam said...
Wow! You really are out of touch with reality. I'm sure if you asked the Somali's why they came here they wouldn't say "economic opportunity". They're refugee's (http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e483ad6.html) and in no place to start making demands about the society that they have just recently been introduced to.
March 13, 2010 at 10:24 PM Report abuse
otisslee said...
"Gooch said, they should not let legal uncertainty stand in the way." Yes, this is a comunity leader saying we should not let legal uncertaintly stand in the way. And we wonder why so many people think the law does not apply to them??
March 14, 2010 at 8:36 AM Report abuse
backwrdstate said...
Looking at the way Americans vote, and at how our system is run by bribery and partisan obstructionism...well why stop at voting. I think we should let non-citizens run for office. It certainly wouldn't lower the quality of our representation.
March 14, 2010 at 9:27 AM Report abuse
trisailer said...
SacoSam you are out of touch with reading comprehension. I know that they are refugees, I've been trying to get your fellow rednecks to realize that for weeks. Some here want to paint a picture of immigrants that does not fit the reality. My point stands, IMMIGRANTS come here for economic opportunities, REFUGEES come here because the state department dumps them on Portland as part of their bigger plan to meddle in others affairs. REFUGEES don't care where they go as long as it is safe. Like most of the complex issues debated here there is no simple answer.
March 14, 2010 at 11:18 AM Report abuse
SacoSam said...
Well, I can certainly comprehend enough to see that your racist attitude towards Caucasians contributes to your bias. Good day!
March 14, 2010 at 3:54 PM Report abuse
trisailer said...
I see, the mere suggestion that people of other races should be listened to and attempts made to treat them fairly invokes an accusation that I don't like my own race. Let's see where have I heard this argument before? I always appreciate it when people show what their really all about. thanks sam
March 14, 2010 at 10:45 PM Report abuse