Immigration and the Right to Vote

[fitbabits]

Topical, this one...

Should "Legal Permanent Residents" be allowed to vote in General Elections?

Definition of LPR status:

Legal permanent resident: status granting foreign nationals the right to reside in the U.S. permanently and eventually (if the foreign national so chooses) apply to naturalize as a citizen. Although this status is intended to be permanent, certain actions can lead to a legal permanent resident being placed in removal proceedings and being deported to his or her home country. These actions include convictions for certain crimes, remaining outside the U.S. for long periods of time, or committing immigration fraud.

As an LPR myself, I really wish I could vote. I can do everything else except that, and I pay taxes like a regular citizen.

[DoctorFinger]

I think voting should be limited to Citizens. It should be a reward for striving for the brass ring of citizenship.

[Widgetcraft]

I'll agree with DoctorFinger, I believe that voting should be a right only afforded to citizens.

[Johan]

[/I]As an LPR myself, I really wish I could vote. I can do everything else except that, and I pay taxes like a regular citizen.

Don't worry...your choice is going to win! :)

However, I think citizenship should be required to vote. It is in every other nation I can think of. Even tourists pay taxes (on purchases, etc.).

[civil]

My parents were LPRs until relatively recently. They became citizens to vote on the immigrant issues that regularly surface in California. I don't believe they regretted their choices or ever felt they should have been allowed to vote without citizenship.

[Jackel]

As an LPR myself...I am glad I don't have to vote. I think both candidates are going to drive this country down even further and wouldn't want to support either one.

However you do realize that the restrictions on voting for LPR's is only in place for federal elections. You should still be able to vote for State / Municipal elections. At least that's what I remember hearing in my visa interview.

On a side note, how long did it take you to get your SSN. I've waited 4 months now....and no one seems to know where my application is because as an LPR, it goes through the DHS. So I'm stuck w/out medical, w/out a valid drivers license, and without a legal means to work in the US.

edit: And because I'm on a small island in Alaska..I can't just goto a local SS office and find out about my card...its a 400$ flight to the nearest office (in Seattle).

[Backseat Killer]

My dad is a legal resident and can't vote. Funny thing is he is probably more educated on the issues and candidates than the average American. He plans on becoming a citizen soon but who knows - he's gone 37 years in the States without becoming one.

My mother, bless her misdirected ways, became a citizen 4 years ago so she could vote for Bush.

That being said, I think citizenship should be required to vote in elections. You choose to live stateside and pay taxes for the rights that provides. If you don't want to fully dedicate yourself to the US, you shouldn't get to vote.

The things that pisses me off more than anything is that my dad can't vote but illegal immigrants get away with it every election. WTF?

[National Kato]

Only citizens should have the right to vote.

[wyeast]

I am glad I don't have to vote.

Oh I see how it is. :mad: *crosses arms* ;)

I tend to take a pretty strict view of immigration issues, considering my folks had lived through two wars, left home with just about nothing, moved to America to go to school and become citizens. So sorry, laddie, I'm in the "gotta be citizens" camp. :o

[fitbabits]

On a side note, how long did it take you to get your SSN. I've waited 4 months now....and no one seems to know where my application is because as an LPR, it goes through the DHS. So I'm stuck w/out medical, w/out a valid drivers license, and without a legal means to work in the US.

I got my SS number back in 1999 and it took all of 30 minutes. It took a little longer to get the actual card, but I had my number almost right away.

[roboninja]

Yeah, have to say that restricting voting to citizens just seems like the right thing.

[Slack3r78]

I'm generally for rather loose immigration laws, but do think that citizenship should be needed to vote.

[Jackel]

Oh I see how it is. :mad: *crosses arms* ;)

I tend to take a pretty strict view of immigration issues, considering my folks had lived through two wars, left home with just about nothing, moved to America to go to school and become citizens. So sorry, laddie, I'm in the "gotta be citizens" camp. :o

Don't get me wrong. I believe that the right to vote is an important one, and I will probably get my citizenship for that right alone. I just disagree with both candidates on different issues, and I am glad that I don't have to make a "lesser of two evils" decision.

[pheriannath]

Service guarantees citizenship.

Would you like to know more?

[Khrymsyn]

Service guarantees citizenship.
Would you like to know more?

Bravo sir, bravo =)



I'd love to answer, but honestly, I do not understand the distinction between a LPR and a Citizen enough to know how I feel about this... Is a LPR basically a citizen that can't vote, or does a LPR get rights, benefeits, and protections from thier previous country as well as this one?

I mean, I basically think that if you're going to vote in this country, you should have a committed, vested interest in the country itself as your primary place of existance. I just don't have the understanding enough of a LPR to know if that applies.

[wyeast]

Don't get me wrong.
I didn't. I'm just giving you the business. :p :D :eek: :o

[That Darn Kat]

I agree, citizenship should be a requirement for voting. Though, now I'm curious about the time span between being an LPR and being a citizen. Are you simply waiting for the system to do it's job before you become a citizen or is there a step you have to take personally to go from LPR to citizen? How long does the process take?

If being an LPR is just sort of a waiting period, then maybe voting should be allowed. But if being an LPR means that you simply haven't taken that extra step to be a citizen (or are currently working on it), then no voting! The two of you that mentioned being LPRs, are you both becoming citizens? Are you allowed to just stay LPRs forever if you want to?

I don't mean to interrogate, just curious. And what better place to get information than from people with personal experience? :)

[Raen]

I think voting should only ever be a citizen right. Sure LPR's are effected by the issues that surround voting and politics, but if they care enough about those issues to want to vote then they clearly care enough to apply for citizenship. I mean I'm in the UK and I don't get to vote in your election, even though it'll effect the policies of the UK government for at least four years.

[Jackel]

I agree, citizenship should be a requirement for voting. Though, now I'm curious about the time span between being an LPR and being a citizen. Are you simply waiting for the system to do it's job before you become a citizen or is there a step you have to take personally to go from LPR to citizen? How long does the process take?

If being an LPR is just sort of a waiting period, then maybe voting should be allowed. But if being an LPR means that you simply haven't taken that extra step to be a citizen (or are currently working on it), then no voting! The two of you that mentioned being LPRs, are you both becoming citizens? Are you allowed to just stay LPRs forever if you want to?

I don't mean to interrogate, just curious. And what better place to get information than from people with personal experience? :)

LPR means you are still a legal citizen of your home country. You are given the right to permanently live and work in the US.

After (8 i think?) several years you are given the opportunity to apply for citizenship if you wish (not mandatory)...at which time you are tested and if you succeed are given your citizenship & asked to revoke the citizenship of your home country.

I agree that you shouldn't be able to vote until you are a citizen however, as many people simply come to the US for work and still maintain strong ties to their home country..which may or may not have good relations with the US. And you want to ensure that the voters have a vested interest in the US, before they choose who will lead the country.

[Spacetronaut]

I agree that having citizens of other countries voting in our elections would not be a great idea.

[Xerxes]

As an LPR myself...I am glad I don't have to vote. I think both candidates are going to drive this country down even further and wouldn't want to support either one.

However you do realize that the restrictions on voting for LPR's is only in place for federal elections. You should still be able to vote for State / Municipal elections. At least that's what I remember hearing in my visa interview.

On a side note, how long did it take you to get your SSN. I've waited 4 months now....and no one seems to know where my application is because as an LPR, it goes through the DHS. So I'm stuck w/out medical, w/out a valid drivers license, and without a legal means to work in the US.

edit: And because I'm on a small island in Alaska..I can't just goto a local SS office and find out about my card...its a 400$ flight to the nearest office (in Seattle).

Alaska eh? You should write a letter to your Governor.

[Xerxes]

After (8 i think?) several years you are given the opportunity to apply for citizenship if you wish (not mandatory)...at which time you are tested and if you succeed are given your citizenship & asked to revoke the citizenship of your home country.


Whoa. You have to turn your back on of your country? What's the deal on duel citizenship then?

[astranoir]

Whoa. You have to turn your back on of your country? What's the deal on duel citizenship then?

I think you cannot be a dual citizen of the United States and another state unless your parents were US citizens and you were born in another country, or you are a Canadian and US citizen... something really weird like that. I had a professor who was a permanent resident, and was pretty upset about this.

[Xerxes]

I think you cannot be a dual citizen of the United States and another state unless your parents were US citizens and you were born in another country, or you are a Canadian and US citizen... something really weird like that. I had a professor who was a permanent resident, and was pretty upset about this.

I thought you just had to be rich. :o

[wyeast]

Dual citizenship is kind of a drag when one of the two nations has mandatory military conscription. :eek: Trust me on this one. :o

[Jackel]

Whoa. You have to turn your back on of your country? What's the deal on duel citizenship then?

Some countries allow duel citizenship's, others don't. The US is one of the countries that doesn't. There are loopholes however.

The US only requires that you verbally renounce your citizenship when you apply for your US one, not requiring written confirmation or anything. So while someone may renounce their Canadian citizenship, unless they deliberately go the extra mile and fill out the paperwork, they'll be able to have a dual citizenship.

It really all depends on the laws that each country has....they don't always go hand in hand with one another.

And remember that being a duel citizen isn't always the best option, as depending on tax laws you'll pay more or less.