BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A national organization is suing to stop noncitizens from voting on Burlington school budgets.
The city amended its charter last year to allow anyone who is not a U.S. citizen but is a legal resident to vote in all local elections. The Vermont Supreme court previously upheld similar voting rights in Montpelier and Winooski.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Burlington residents by the group Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections, RITE, and specifically targets school district elections. They argue that since education is funded at the state level, noncitizen voting on school matters violates the state constitution, which requires voters to be citizens.