Queens Community House (QCH) proudly submitted our testimony on behalf of Introduction 1867 to expand voting rights in New York City elections to nearly one million noncitizen New Yorkers.
On September 20, QCH neighbors and colleagues joined the partnering organizations of the Our City Our Vote coalition to share their written and video testimonies for a virtual City Council hearing.
Our City Our Vote is a campaign to expand the right to vote in municipal elections to New York residents who are legal permanent residents or have work authorization. Currently, nearly one million New York City residents cannot vote in local elections due to their citizenship status, despite paying taxes and being invested in and contributing to the city.
Immigrant New Yorkers are disproportionately on the front lines during the pandemic, yet many of them can't vote on policies affecting their lives. These people live here, work here, go to school here, and are raising families here, but despite paying billions of dollars in taxes every year, they have no vote on the direction of our city.
The hearing was an important step toward making sure that more of our neighbors have a voice and are able to vote on what happens in the neighborhoods that they consider home.
"I am here today because I am a legal resident waiting for my green card, I pay taxes, I pay rent, I work in my community, I volunteer in my community, I belong to community organizations, I went to college here and paid tuition, I am raising my children here, and I think of New York as my home. Yet, I am not allowed to participate in local elections. I don’t get to go to the polls on election day and vote. I simply don’t have that right."
- Julieta Larsen, QCH Community Engagement Coordinator
"I am here today because I am one of those one million New Yorkers without a voice. I am a noncitizen DACA recipient, legal resident of New York City. I have been living in the United States for the past 20 years, always working hard, and paying my taxes. During all these years I have seen many cases of injustice and this is an example of it.
- Eman Nasim, QCH Program Participant (full testimony viewable in livestream of virtual City Council hearing)
"Approximately a million New Yorkers don't have the right to vote, but still pay their taxes! They contribute to our community by buying homes, starting businesses and creating jobs in their neighborhood. They raise their children in the community, and send them to public schools in the area. They deserve the right to vote for representatives, whose decisions directly impact them and their families. I support this bill on behalf of my community."
- Alma Reyes, QCH Outreach Worker
To view the livestream of the virtual City Council hearing, click here!
