NYC Mayor Eric Adams allows 800,000 non-citizens to vote in local elections

• New York City Mayor Eric Adams allowed legislation to become law on Sunday that will give 800,000 non-citizens access to voting as early as next year 
• So-called 'Dreamers' will now be able to help select the city's mayor, city council members, borough presidents, comptroller and public advocate

Eric Adams supports legislation that will allow 800,000 non-citizens to vote in municipal elections in New York City as early as next year.

So-called 'Dreamers' will have access to the ballot box after the new mayor of New York City allowed the bill to automatically become law on Sunday.

Opponents have vowed to challenge the new law, which the City Council approved a month ago – but unless a judge halts its implementation, New York City is the first major U.S. city to grant widespread municipal voting rights to non-citizens.

More than a dozen communities across the U.S. already allow non-citizens to cast ballots in local elections, including 11 towns in Maryland and two in Vermont.

Adams defended himself Sunday against criticism from members of his own party claiming that he did not support the legislation. 

'No, I did not change my mind,' Adams told CNN's Jake Tapper on the State of the Union program. 'I supported the concept of the bill.'

'The one aspect of that I had a problem with and I thought was problematic, was the 30-day part, of being in the country for 30 days, was the place that I had questions,' he clarified. 'And I sat down with my colleagues. I'm a big believer in conversation. We have to start talking to each other, and not at each other. And after hearing their rationale and their theories behind it, I thought it was more important to not veto the bill or get in the way at all, and allow to build a move forward.'

'In New York City, just Brooklyn, for example – 47 per cent of Brooklynites speak a language other than English at home when I was the borough president,' the new Democratic mayor said. 'And so I think it's imperative that people who are in a local municipality have the right to decide who's going to govern them. And I support the overall concept of that bill.'

Under the new law, non-citizens still wouldn't be able to vote for president or members of Congress in federal races, or in the state elections that pick the governor, judges and legislators.

Rather, the measure would allow non-citizens who have been lawful permanent residents of the city for at least 30 days, as well as those authorized to work in the U.S., including 'Dreamers,' to help select the city's mayor, city council members, borough presidents, comptroller and public advocate.

With Adams' decision to not veto and allow the bill to become law, the Board of Elections must now begin the process of drawing an implementation plan by July, including voter registration rules and provisions that would create separate ballots for municipal races to prevent non-citizens from casting ballots in federal and state contests.

It's a watershed moment for the nation's most populous city, where legally documented, voting-age non-citizens comprise nearly one in nine of the city's 7 million voting-age inhabitants. The movement to win voting rights for non-citizens prevailed after numerous setbacks.

'Dreamers' are young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children who would benefit from the never-passed DREAM Act or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows them to remain in the country if they meet certain criteria.

The first elections in which non-citizens would be allowed to vote are in 2023.

'We build a stronger democracy when we include the voices of immigrants,' said former City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez, who led the charge to win approval for the legislation.

Rodriguez, who Adams appointed as his transportation commissioner, thanked the mayor for his support and expects a vigorous defense against any legal challenges.

Adams recently cast uncertainty over the legislation when he raised concern about the monthlong residency standard, but later said those concerns did not mean he would veto the bill.

While there was some question whether Adams could stop the bill from becoming law, the 30-day time limit for the mayor to take action expired at the stroke of midnight.

Adams said he looked forward to the law bringing millions more into the democratic process.

'I believe that New Yorkers should have a say in their government, which is why I have and will continue to support this important legislation,' Adams said in a statement released Saturday night. He added that his earlier concerns were put at ease after what he called productive dialogue with colleagues.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio had similar concerns but did not move to veto the measure before vacating City Hall at the end of the year.

Opponents say the council lacks the authority on its own to grant voting rights to non-citizens and should have first sought action by state lawmakers.

Some states, including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado and Florida, have adopted rules that would preempt any attempts to pass laws like the one in New York City.