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LA City Council pulls noncitizen voting proposal at the last minute
A voting sign at Cal State Los Angeles in Los Angeles on June 7, 2022.
(
Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters
)
Topline:
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday pulled a ballot proposal for November that could have led to non-citizens being allowed to vote in council and school board elections.
Why it matters: There are approximately 1.3 million to 1.4 million non-citizen residents living in the city, according to Data USA, making up nearly 36% of the city's population. So if the proposal was approved by voters, it could lay the groundwork for dramatically changing the electorate in Los Angeles. Critics said the proposal needs to be vetted more thoroughly before being put to voters.
Another last minute change: The council also pulled a ballot proposal that would have asked voters in November to expand the power of the City Council over the police department, including the ability to direct policy. Instead, the proposal will go back to a committee for more review.
The backstory: The City Council voted 10-5 in mid-June to place the ballot proposals and other charter changes on the Nov. 3 ballot.
What's next: Both proposals will be sent back to the committee level for consideration and to address concerns from detractors. For more on the issues, go here.
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