Bill to allow non-citizens, minors to vote in Montgomery County

Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row: Bill to allow non-citizens, minors to vote in MoCo...:

 Residents who are not U.S. Citizens - as well as 16-and-17-year-olds - could gain the right to vote in Montgomery County School Board elections, should a bill moving forward in the Maryland General Assembly become law. On Friday, members of the Montgomery County Delegation’s Education Committee, including Bill Frick (D-District 16) who represents Bethesda, voted in favor of Bill MC 25-16. The full MoCo delegation will consider the bill at its meeting this Friday, February 5.

The bill would allow the Montgomery County Council to change the rules on who was eligible to vote.

Critics of the bill say it would violate the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Maryland Constitution, and give those who haven't taken on the responsibilities of citizenship the same privileges as those who have. 

Supporters say it would have a positive impact. Former Takoma Park City Councilman Seth Grimes says a similar change that municipality made in 2013 has worked out well. 16 and 17-year-olds had a 44.8% turnout rate in the city's 2015 elections, and 71 non-citizens voted as well, Grimes said.