Los Angeles Councilman Pushes Noncitizen Voting Idea And Gets Slammed
A Los Angeles city councilmember is putting forward a proposal that could open the door to noncitizen voting in city elections. The idea is still early, but it is already stirring up a lot of debate.
According to ABC 7 in Los Angeles, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez wants to explore whether noncitizens should be allowed to vote in future city races. He says the proposal could eventually make it onto the November ballot.
Federal law still bars noncitizens from voting in national elections. Some cities, including a few in California and Washington, D.C., have allowed limited local voting in certain cases. At the same time, 18 states have passed bans on noncitizen voting.
Soto-Martinez framed the idea as a fairness issue for longtime residents. He said, “We have folks living in this country who have been here 20 years,” he said. “They started a family, they pay their taxes, many of them are homeowners, but they don’t have a say over the policies that affect their children and families on any given day.”
That argument is exactly where the fight starts. Supporters say people who live and work in a city should have a voice in local decisions. Opponents say voting is tied to citizenship for a reason, and that line should not get blurred.
Critics also warn that once local noncitizen voting is allowed, the pressure does not stop there. The concern is simple. If the rule changes in one place, activists will push for more places. Then more races. Then bigger races.
For many voters, the issue comes down to trust and fairness. People who are here legally and registered to vote should not have to watch the system get watered down. Local elections matter. They shape schools, public safety, taxes, and services. That is a big deal.
The motion may still be in the early stages, but the reaction is already loud. This one is not going away anytime soon.
LA Councilman Hugo Soto Martinez: It is not fair that illegals are not able to vote! pic.twitter.com/D4YTC4nwuN
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 1, 2026