Should noncitizens be allowed to vote in Montpelier?

Montpelier residents will decide Tuesday if they want to allow noncitizens to vote in city elections.

Chicago, San Francisco and some towns in Maryland have approved similar questions. In Vermont, the secretary of state's office says no other local city allows noncitizens to vote.

"There are many people who have lived in Montpelier for many years, and feel like Montpelier is their place," Roberta Garland said.

Garland is spearheading the effort to allow noncitizens to head to the polls because they pay taxes, use the school systems and live in the community.

Garland is not sure how many new voters this would translate to. According to census data, foreign-born people made up 5.5 percent of the city's population between 2012 and 2016. That number includes people who have been naturalized.

Our Neliana Ferraro spoke with people on and off camera in Montpelier Monday night. Almost everyone said they were fine with allowing noncitizens to vote on local affairs.

"In an experimental fashion, here in a very small town, I think it doesn't hurt anything. On a national level, it might be a different question," said Joey Dorwart of Montpelier.

"Especially being a very progressive city that we are here in Montpelier, I think we should allow that," said Jonathan Taylor of Montpelier.

"There are Americans who don't really study the issues and people who travel, I feel they are open-minded and willing to study," said Lisette Elise Paris of Montpelier.

Garland said she has gotten some pushback. Some have argued voting rights should be reserved for people who earn citizenship.

If the measure passes the city vote Tuesday, it would also need approval from the House, the Senate and the governor because it would change Montpelier's charter. But Garland is hopeful.

"I think it's all about local control and whether Montpelier can make decisions for itself," Garland said.