City of Somerville header
File #: 25-0417    Version: 1
Type: Mayor's Request Status: Approved, Awaiting Mayoral Review
File created: 3/5/2025 In control: City Council
On agenda: 3/13/2025 Final action: 3/13/2025
Enactment date: 3/13/2025 Enactment #: 218544
Title: Requesting approval of a Home Rule Petition to provide legal voting rights in municipal elections for non-citizen residents of the City of Somerville.
Attachments: 1. 2025-Voting Rights Non-Citizen Residents
Related files: 212546

Agenda Summary

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Requesting approval of a Home Rule Petition to provide legal voting rights in municipal elections for non-citizen residents of the City of Somerville.

 

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Official Text

To the Honorable City Council:

 

The Mayor respectfully requests that this Council approve the re-submittal of a home rule petition to provide for legal voting rights in municipal elections for non-citizen residents of the City of Somerville.

 

Please note that this is the same home rule petition previously approved by the city and submitted to the Legislature in 2021 but because the local approval has expired pursuant to section 7C of  the Legislature's Joint Rules, we are seeking re-approval so that it can be re-filed with the Legislature.

 

The legal text of the petition is attached.

 

Appropriate staff will be available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

 

Respectfully,

Katjana Ballantyne, Mayor