Early American History

Although surprising to many, immigrant voting is older than our national pastime (baseball) and was extensively practiced in the United States. In fact, 40 states allowed immigrants who were not U.S. citizens to legally vote at some point between 1776-1926.

Historically known as “alien suffrage,” immigrants voted in not just in local elections, which is what occurs today in Maryland, San Francisco, Vermont, New York, and Washington D.C., but also in state and federal elections. And immigrants could also run and hold office.

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Ron Hayduk

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