The Public Interest Legal Foundation representing four African-American New York City voters, has sued the City of New York alleging the alien voting law in New York City – the “Foreign Citizen Voting Bill” — violates the 15th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Fifteenth Amendment states: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
The plaintiffs allege that the NYC law was enacted with an impermissible racial intent and the sponsors openly spoke about racial groups who would gain strength, were aware of racial groups (Blacks) who would LOSE voting power, and a variety of other evidence relevant in a 15th Amendment challenge under the caselaw. Indeed this local law acts to disenfranchise all U.S. citizens living and voting in NYC’s local election by allowing non-U.S. citizens to vote and thereby effectively dilute the U.S. citizens votes.