PORTLAND — A group of city residents this morning took out petitions aimed at giving non-citizens the right to vote in city elections.

Members of a five-member committee met at 10 a.m. at City Hall and signed affidavits initiating a petition. To put the question to voters in November, the committee must gather the signatures of about 4,500 registered Portland voters by July 14.

Additional Photos

Will Everitt watches as Jenna Vendil signs an affidavit today to initiate a petition drive looking to give non-citizens the right to vote in city elections. In the background are two other members of the committee initiating the petition, Mohammed Dini, left, and Alfred Jacob. The group needs to gather 4,500 signatures to put the referendum on the November ballot. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

The petition would force a referendum on giving voting rights to non-citizens who can prove they are legal residents. It would not allow non-citizens to hold public office.

The effort to start a petition drive began this month, after the Portland Charter Commission voted 7-5 to reject a proposal to put the issue on the ballot in November.

The petition committee includes Jenna Vendil, a member of the Portland School Committee; former state senator Michael Brennan, Mohammed Dini, president of the Somali Student Association at the University of Southern Maine; and Alfred Jacob, a Sudanese-American who is director of the Portland United soccer league.

People who circulate the petitions are required to be registered Portland voters.