BOSTON, MA — Republican candidate for governor Brian Shortsleeve today criticized a proposal before the Boston City Council that would allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, calling it a step in the wrong direction.
“When they should be passing a voter ID law to help restore trust in our elections, instead, some Boston city councilors are pushing to open the voting spigots to non-citizens,” said Shortsleeve. “You can support immigrants, respect their contributions, and still draw a clear line: our political system must be run by citizens of this country.”
Shortsleeve pointed to Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn’s opposition as the right approach, emphasizing that maintaining confidence in elections is critical at a time when trust is already strained.
“This isn’t complicated. Voting is a fundamental right of citizenship,” Shortsleeve added. “We cannot abandon the idea of government of, by, and for the people of this country by turning over our sacred right to self-government to non-citizens. Further, if we want people to have faith in our system, we need clear rules, not blurred lines.”