Massachusetts
Immigrant Voting Rights Campaigns
Beginning in the 1990s, Amherst, Cambridge, Newton, and Brookline Massachusetts (2010) passed home rule petitions that would allow resident immigrants who are not citizens to vote in their local elections, but these towns need state enabling legislation to implement their local laws.
Boston considered a similar bill in 2008 (it lost in the Council by a vote of 8-7) and Boston again entertained consideration of a bill to restore NCV in 2018. State Representatives have periodically filed bills that would allow cities and towns to permit legal permanent residents to vote in local elections, but they have not yet been enacted. Sommerville and Northhampton have also considered similar measures.
Contact us.
Ron Hayduk
rhayduk@sfsu.edu
Please email us if you have any questions or any information that you would like to share with us.