LOS ANGELES (KABC) — In a major shakeup ahead of the November election, the Los Angeles City Council pulled a measure that would have asked voters to allow noncitizens to vote in city and school board elections.
The L.A. City Council voted on Tuesday to pull the measure from the November ballot. It was a unanimous vote to send the draft ballot language to a committee for additional study after several councilmembers said it had not been properly vetted, according to the L.A. Times.
PREVIOUS REPORT: Measure to give noncitizens the right to vote in LA city elections to go before voters
Los Angeles took one step closer toward giving noncitizens the right to vote in city elections, putting the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot.
If signed into law, people with some form of legal status — such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status holders and legal permanent residents — would be allowed to vote.
Supporters say it would give people who have been paying taxes a chance to weigh in on their community’s policies. But critics say it would go against what the founding fathers wanted.
Other cities, such as San Francisco, allow noncitizen voting.
Regardless, in a last-minute move, the L.A. City Council scrapped the proposal.
In a separate vote, the City Council also scrapped plans for a November ballot measure that would have given councilmembers power over policy at the Los Angeles Police Department. The Board of Los Angeles Police Commissioners, whose members are appointed by the mayor, currently has that responsibility.
In an 8-6 vote, the council decided to further study the proposal after the union representing rank-and-file LAPD officers threatened to sue the city, saying that labor negotiators failed to meet and confer with them over the proposal, according to the L.A. Times.
The general election will be held on Nov. 3, 2026.
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