State GOP, Republican National Committee Sue Vermont City Over Noncitizens Voting

Republicans sued Winooski, Vermont, to stop a local ordinance allowing foreigners to vote for school board elections.

Winooski opened its doors to foreign nationals last year for voting in local elections. The Winooski Incorporated Schools District links its voter qualification with the charter of the city, so that foreign nationals may vote in school district elections, even those related to school funds. The State Education Fund funds the annual education budget of the city.

The lawsuit (pdf), claims that the state constitution is being violated by allowing non-citizens vote on these issues.

“Chapter II, Section 42 of the Vermont Constitution establishes United States citizenship as a requirement for voting on ‘freemen’ issues, which include ‘any matter that concerns the State of Vermont,'” According to the lawsuit.

“Plaintiffs seek an injunction compelling Defendant to refrain from implementing the invalid voting scheme, including refraining from registering noncitizen voters to participate in education-related elections and referendums in the City of Winooski.”

The Vermont Republican Party, the Republican National Committee (RNC), two residents and the Vermont Republican Party are the plaintiffs in the case. The lawsuit was filed in civil court at the Chittenden County Superior Court.

An older lawsuit

A group of plaintiffs challenged Winooski’s charter modifications allowing noncitizens vote in September 2021.

The City of Winooski was granted a motion to dismiss by the Chittenden Court in September 2022. The plaintiffs appealed to the Vermont Supreme Court. They later ruled that Winooski’s amendment was within state constitutional (pdf).

The plaintiffs in the most recent lawsuit pointed out that the justices of the day did not consider the criteria for a vote. “statewide” Oder “municipal” In nature.

In its ruling, the state Supreme Court stated that an election that is not valid or fair must be declared. “municipal in name” However, anyone who is involved in a state-wide issue would be subject to the state constitution’s voter eligibility requirements.

Plaintiffs claim they have suffered “redressable harm” The defendant is responsible for the damages. Votes will be cast for the individual plaintiffs. “diluted by noncitizen votes made possible by Winooski’s charter change,” It argues.

The lawsuit claims that members of VTGOP or the RNC will have their votes reduced as well.

“The RNC and VTGOP also anticipate having to expend additional resources on ‘get out the vote’ and other election efforts and for recruiting and supporting candidates who will have to contend with an expanded voter pool that includes unconstitutional noncitizen votes in elections for the school board and with respect to the education budget,” The lawsuit was filed.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau data, Winooski had 8,330 residents as of July 1, 2021. White residents accounted for approximately 80 percent and Asian residents for close to 13% of its population. In 2017, 14.2 percent of the population was foreign-born.

The Epoch Times reached Winooski City Council members as well as the mayor to get their comments.

Noncitizen Voting

Ronna McDaniel (chairwoman of the RNC) praised the RNC’s and VTGOPs lawsuit against Winooski via a tweet on March 9

“We won a massive lawsuit against New York City last year over this same issue. American elections should be decided by American citizens—full stop,” She said.

Breitbart reported that Montpelier in Vermont allowed foreign nationals to vote in local elections last year. A March 7 referral showed that 67 per cent of Burlington’s voters supported such a policy.

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