Citizenship is required for voting in most countries and states. Is there value to this voting rights restriction? Where can non-citizens vote? Some municipalities—like New York City—are allowing non-citizens to vote in city elections. But in most local and federal elections non-citizens are denied voting rights because Congress has said that individuals must be legal citizens and registered to participate in U.S. elections. How does being given or denied the right to vote affect somebody’s sense of belonging in a community? In this podcast episode, we look at the history of voting rights and restrictions in America and see how voting by non-citizens plays out in elections where it is allowed.

Podcast Guests:

Woojung Diana Park, Immigrant Justice Organizer at Minkwon Center in New York

Chaewon Jessica Park, Immigrant Justice Organizer at Minkwon Center in New York

Howard Husock, Senior Fellow of Domestic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute

Ron Hayduk, professor of political science at San Francisco State University

Kate Stewart, mayor of Takoma Park Maryland