Local matters
Local people
Local votes
We believe that all Iowa residents, regardless of citizenship status, should be allowed to vote in their local elections.
This is not something that needs to be mandated by Washington -- in fact, fourteen municipalities in three different states already allow it[*]. It's time we allow the rest to opt-in.
Federal law
Federal law allows non-citizens to vote in any election that is not a federal election. The Constitution defines who can vote in federal elections.
State Constitution
Iowa's constitution also allows non-citizens to vote in state and local elections. The state constitution says that US citizens have the right to vote, but does not exclude non-citizens.
State Code
Iowa Code (§48A.5) is what says non-citizen residents can not vote in local elections. Changing this law would open the door for change at a local level.
City ordinance
We believe that local government should be in control. Choosing which residents can vote, and which residents will be excluded, should be done by those who live among their neighbors every day.
Write your representative
The Iowa legislature has the power to give counties, school boards, and city governments an opportunity to give a voice to their residents. Find your representative and let them know how you feel about participating in your community, or tell them how you feel about including your neighbors in the process.