The 11-member council voted unanimously Monday to allow residents to register if they provide government identification and proof of residency, including a sworn affidavit.
Council member Joseph Solomon (Ward 5), who was one of the bill’s sponsors, said that he was inspired by a resident who voiced a concern about the council’s decision in early 2015 to lower the voting age for municipal elections to 16.
“While she viewed our actions as positive, it was a slap in the face to our residents who owned homes and were not citizens but deserved a voice,” Solomon said, recalling the woman’s comments at a community meeting. “She really felt that the council was enabling kids to vote without recognizing there were adults that had been silenced.”
Noncitizens are still barred from running for office and from voting in county, state or federal elections. To register to vote, they must have lived in Hyattsville for at least 30 days.
