The right to vote in the United States is a heavily debated and discussed topic ? Who exactly gets to vote ? Which elections can they vote in ? What happens if you try to vote when you are not supposed to ? Can green card holders vote in the United States ? Read on for the answers.
Eligibility to Vote
U.S citizens are allowed to vote in all of the elections, federal, state and local. Usually lawful permanent residents can only vote once they become naturalized U.S citizens.
In order to be eligible to vote you must:
- Satisfy your state’s residency requirements
- Be a minimum of 18 years old on election day
People who are usually not allowed to vote:
- People who are mentally incapacitated
- People who have felony convictions
Please check with your particular state for the exact rules, as they vary from state to state.
Voter Registration
Usually only U.S citizens are eligible to register to vote. If you are not a U.S citizen, and are ineligible to vote, you should not try to register to vote. Attempting to register can lead to problems such as deportation.
Can Green Card holders vote ?
Usually, no. You have to be a U.S citizen to vote. There are however some unusual cases where green card holders can vote.
Can Green Card holders Vote for President ?
The elections for President are the federal elections. U.S citizens are the only ones allowed to vote in the federal elections. This is always the case and there are no exceptions.
What if a green card holder votes in the federal elections ?
They can be deported. A lawful permanent resident registering to vote in federal elections can cause them to get deported. Even if you don’t get deported your naturalization process to U.S citizenship could fall through. It does not seem worth the consequences.
Can Green Card holders vote in New York City ?
Some states allow lawful permanent residents to vote in state and local elections. A bill introduced in the New York City council in January in 2020 grants green card holders and immigrants that have work visas the right to vote in mayoral and other elections. The bill permits close to a million New York City tax payer residents that are not citizens voting rights.
Also Read: Green Card Renewal: Renewal fee, processing & requirements
How much does it cost to get a US Green Card in 2022?
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FAQs
No, only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections.
You have to be a minimum of 18 years old.
They can get deported or have their naturalization path to citizenship revoked.
No, not unless you become a citizen.
