Can I Register To Vote With A Green Card

While United states of america permanent residents enjoy many of the same rights as citizens, voting is non one of them. Green card holders may non vote in federal elections and are mostly forbidden from voting in local and state elections as well—though not always.

The most important question is whether information technology's legal for green card holders to vote. While in some cases, it is legal, every bit long as they come across certain criteria, earlier you fill out a voter registration card, yous must know the police force in your land definitively—because the immigration consequences of merely registering to vote when it is against the police force are very serious indeed.

hand putting ballot into voting box — A hand putting a ballot into a voting box. Tin a green bill of fare holder vote in elections? Usually not!

Who Tin Vote in U.S. Elections?

In society to exist allowed to vote in U.South. elections, you demand to run into certain requirements. If you don't run into these requirements and try to vote, you'll break the constabulary. Voters need to be:

A U.Due south. denizen
A resident of the state, co-ordinate to that country'south requirements
eighteen years one-time on or earlier Election Day
Registered to vote before your land's deadlines

Non-citizens are barred from voting across the country, but even some citizens are non allowed to vote. Felony convictions and mental incapacitation tin remove your right to vote, though rules vary from state to state.

Punishment for Voting equally a Dark-green Card Holder

Permanent residents face serious jail fourth dimension, fines, and even exile from the U.S. for registering to vote, fifty-fifty earlier they really bandage a ballot. Registering to vote equally a permanent resident is considered fraud because yous'd be impersonating a U.South. citizen.

Co-ordinate to the Washington Post, a Texas green card holder was sentenced to 8 years in prison, and likely displacement afterward, for voting in elections in 2012 and 2014. Even though the holder was brought here as an baby, it was still fraud because she hadn't attained citizenship.

Accidentally Registering to Vote

The United states has an interest in getting all citizens to register to vote, but sometimes its efforts catch light-green cardholders. One example is with commuter'southward license registration. There is ordinarily an option to register to vote when you get or renew your driver's license. Sometimes, information technology's washed automatically unless you opt-out.

Information technology'southward crucial to let the DMV know that you're a permanent resident and then that you do not become registered. If you do end up receiving a voter registration menu, speak with an immigration attorney so that yous practise non jeopardize your immigration status.

Recall, even if yous never vote, merely registering to vote could get you deported!

Historically, Greenish Card Holders Could Vote

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, as many as 40 states and U.S. territories allowed non-citizens to vote in state and sometimes federal elections. Arkansas was the final country to permit non-citizen voting, ending the practice in 1926. Since then, voting has been a right reserved merely for citizens.

Even if your land allows you to vote in country and local elections as a light-green menu holder, be wary of registering until yous clearly know the rules. You do not want to lose your chance at citizenship because of accidentally registering in a federal election.

How Can a Permanent Resident Gain the Right to Vote?

In social club to vote, you must become a U.S. denizen. In well-nigh cases, the path to citizenship for permanent residents is naturalization. Naturalization is an extensive and expensive process. In order to be eligible you must:

Be at least eighteen years old
Be a permanent resident for at least five years (3 if married to a U.Due south. citizen)
Have been physically present in the U.S. at least xxx months in the last 5 years
Exist able to read, write & speak bones English
Be a person of good moral character

The application for naturalization is Grade N-400. The awarding itself is long, complex, and includes a fee of $725. Also, you demand to have a green card. Before you file Form Due north-400, it's a good idea to consider getting assist with your awarding. You can have a gratuitous citizenship eligibility quiz to prepare.