What are the rules for immigrants regarding voting? I know they cannot run for president, but can they vote for this position? What are your feelings about immigrant voting?
2007-02-06 03:34:41 · 10 answers · asked by Volvo drivin' soccer mom 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
Only United States citizens can vote. Immigrants who have become U.S. Citizens can vote. Immigrants (or "aliens"), legal or illegal CANNOT vote. My wife is still a Dutch citizen...although we've been married 27 years and she's been in the U.S. legally for 29 years. She still can't vote. (We HATE the immigration department and even after 29 years we still can't bring ourselves to go there to apply for her citizenship!)
Also, a citizen convicted of a felony (often) loses their right to vote.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex-offender_voting_rights_by_state
http://www.sentencingproject.org/IssueAreaHome.aspx?IssueID=4
http://www.sentencingproject.org/StatsByState.aspx
Only a person who is born a U.S. Citizen can be President. Even if a person born as a citizen in another country becomes a U.S. citizen, he or she can never be President (I disagree with this but it's etched in stone...for now...in the Constitution.)
2007-02-06 03:47:24 · answer #1 · answered by 4999_Basque 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In order to vote, one has to be a citizen. This means that if you are an immigrant, you have to go through the "naturalization" process - become a citizen of this country.
I think this is a proper process because the citizens should be the ones dictating how a country runs - not necessarily those that live within the borders. The citizens have to deal with it for the life term, where those here temporarily can go back to their country if they don't like what is going on. They should also not have the say in the running of 2 different countries - I think that might produce a conflict of interest.
2007-02-06 11:47:02 · answer #2 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They have to be naturalized citizens to have the right to vote. I support this. We are a country made up of immigrants. As long as they go through the legal process, I have no issue. I would expect them to vote and consider shirking that responsibility as neglect of civic duty. But a non-naturalized citizen voting in America would be no different than me trying to go vote in Venezuela's election. That would be absurd. I have no right to participate in the elections of another nation, and neither do non-naturalized immigrants into my country. Think of it this way also- Suppose I decided to go like in France for a job. I consider myself American and choose not to become a French citizen. If I don't care enough about the country to relinquish my American citizenship and become a patriated Frenchman, what business do I have imposing my will upon their internal affairs?
2007-02-06 12:15:03 · answer #3 · answered by lizardmama 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When immigrants become naturalized citizens, they gain the same voting rights as any other U.S. citizen.
"Oh, the humanity" is incorrect in stating that felons lose their right to vote. I certainly believe that those convicted of certain felonies should lose their voting rights, at the very least until they have satisfied their debt to society and completed their jail and parole time, but this is unfortunately no longer the case in any of the fifty states. Liberals have managed to do away with this, because they want the votes of the dregs of our society..
2007-02-06 12:09:18 · answer #4 · answered by senior citizen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only citizens can vote. Immigrant CITIZENS can vote - or be Governor or Senator for that matter. However, they have to be not just residents, but citizens.
2007-02-06 11:39:08 · answer #5 · answered by DAR 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well they have to become naturalized ( u.s citizen). they cant becmome president. i think that if the immigrant is a permanent resident than they should be allowed to. why do they make it so hard for hispanics? now thats a good question...
2007-02-06 13:57:14 · answer #6 · answered by carol 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legal immigrants can vote. Illegal Immigrants cannot vote. I have heard that many illegal immigrants do vote with a fake id.
2007-02-06 11:39:26 · answer #7 · answered by mike_alegend 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
voting means, electing your leader who could take decisions that could effect country's future. hence every vote has its own impact on country's future. isnt it risky to place such a sensitive object iin hands of those who are not enough patriotic?
2007-02-06 11:45:15 · answer #8 · answered by subhash b 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
if they are legal then yes the can and should be able to vote.
2007-02-06 11:37:44 · answer #9 · answered by sydb1967 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
http://www.amendforarnold.com
2007-02-06 11:51:44 · answer #10 · answered by sunflare63 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋