Who Should Be Able to Vote in U.S. Elections?

Exactly! There are a lot of reasons why people from other countries wouldn't want U.S. Citizenship, especially if it meant they would have to give up citizenship in their homeland. I know I wouldn't want to give up my U.S. Citizenship to gain citizenship in a country I happen to live in. But I wouldn't expect the rights and privileges of citizenship there either.

Anyone with permanent residency has the same rights as any US citizen, and anyone legally in the country (even if just on a tourist visa) has some of the same rights (if they were a victim of a crime, for example). There are very few things that make a difference between a permanent resident and a citizen - can't vote, and can't work for some of the federal government divisions such as the CIA or the state department (although joining the army is OK). There are - as said - many reasons to not become an actual citizen. I have stalled for a long time because I did not want to give up my original citizenship (sorry, but it's Finland, and that's a really good country to have citizenship in). Now that Finland has changed its policy to allow dual citizenship, I will be getting my US citizenship eventually. For a while I was worried that the US would require me to drop my original one, but looks like that won't be a problem. Most citizens of any country (I'm not pointing fingers at anyone, this is just a general observation) have no idea what their own country's immigration policy is like. Immigrants come in many colors, and move for many different reasons. They should never be pegged into one big category.

No one is pegging anyone into one big category. Im sure that you wouldnt want to drop your citizenship with your home country..I wouldnt either. However the fact of the matter is that if people want to vote in our elections wether you have lived here 1 or 20 years, have to become a U.S. citizen. Thats great that your country is offering dual citizenship and that you will be able to call both countries home. I dont agree with allowing anyone to just come and live here and expect to be able to vote for someone who runs my city/state/country..just on the basis that they work and live in the U.S. Thats a great start, but why not just finish what you started if voting is that important to you and make yourself a legal citizen. And thats not grouping people into the illegal status either...Im talking work Visa's and all that jazz also. And I know my immigration policies pretty well, but I also know the standards of being and becoming a U.S. citizen rather than demanding rights that dont rightly belong to a person. I know there are a lot of reason why people choose not to make it official, but then they dont need to be worried about voting either.

Believe it or not, there are many people in America who consider you and I bigots because we don't think non citizens should vote.

Me too. ;~D

Ah well, "the likes of me", has been accused of worse things. Lol.

I don't know all the history behind it all. I grew up in Louisiana for the longest time the drinking age here was really low, then they raised it to 18, then a few years later 21. All three, in my opinion, should be 21. Eighteen year olds are not old or life wise enough to make decision to join the military and I don't think they fully understand the consequences of drinking.

It used to be the same... 21.

Touche. Free speech is a constitutional right, and should be a right worldwide, IMO. But--do constitutional rights apply to noncitizens? Seriously, outside of the civil liberties that all humans should have, do they?

That's why We the People retain the authority to decide what the government can do and what it can't. We don't give the government the authority to silence anyone when it comes to political discussion, but we do give the government the authority to make laws about voting.

Ah, they can talk all they want, but they'll have to do their talking outside the ballot box. ;~D

Well, there is another difference between the US and Italy (and even the EU). Here in the US we don't have a "national election". We have 50 state elections. The only elected position in our government that represents the whole nation is the President. Therefore, there really isn't a way to let people vote in a "national" election, but not in state and local elections. Just for the record, I think it is sad that the nations of Europe have given up their sovereignty like that. I remember travelling around Europe in a VW Bus in the 70s. Even though I was young, I loved how unique each country was. I doubt that uniqueness will last much longer.

I understand what you said about uniqueness, para, but really, I don't agree at all. I live in the EU and have traveled among EU countries often in the last years, and I don't see much changes at all. What EU did is basically getting ready to be an economical giant that can compete with the USA and China. And if you add up the power of our economies,it's working. That implies many many improvements in many areas, not only economical, but also related to nature preservation, security, Justice etc. Bureaucracy now is way less annoying...but each country still has their own peculiarities, and nobody wants that to disappear...I think this is going towards a Confederation of National States where each one of us is still who he is now, but with the advantages of being a world's giant and not just a little small country.

The EU is still too young to have made an impact on local culture, we'll see how things are 20 or more years from now. I do understand the economic reasons for creating the EU, and I really do hope each nation within the EU can maintain its cultural uniqeness.

Not becoming a citizen has a freedom all its own, doesn't it. ;~D Getting rid of the Electoral College would rob the states of their voice in electing the president. It would also rob those living in less populated areas.... but that is a different subject. I agree with you about the picking cards thing. If just anyone can vote, we might as well not bother with elections. The presidential candidates aren't the only names on the ballot. If a citizen doesn't bother showing up to the polls because they don't think their vote for president matters, they are robbing themselves of the opportunity to vote in local, county and state elections.

Oh, and I agree, there needs to be massive reform in the legal immigration and naturalization process.

Oh, I can see why someone living and working here in Sheboygan would want to be able to vote. However, voting is a right of citizenship not of residence. I'm glad you care about your home country enough to not give up your citizenship there, even though you live here in the States.

I agree, while we have the freedom to be ignorant, ignorance is usually what allows governments to take freedom away.

"Talk about putting the "I" in idiot." And for that, I will put the "A" in Agree! ;~D

I'm sure that neighbor marks "no" about a lot of things, and not just with voting. ;~D

Nope, the mayoral and other local elections are even more important than the presidential election, since local governments have more impact on our lives than national ones do. Also, we can have more impact on local affairs than national ones.