NEW YORK – New York State Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R, C-Staten Island, Brooklyn) released a statement on February 21 after winning an appeal against a New York City voting law that would have granted certain non-citizens, i.e. legal permanent residents, including those with green cards, the right to vote in city elections. The New York State Appellate Court, Second Department, on Feb. 21, found the law unconstitutional in a 3-to-1 opinion which upholds most of a lower court ruling issued in 2022 by the Richmond County State Supreme Court on Staten Island.

Assemblyman Tannousis said: “During a time where nearly 200,000 migrants have flooded our city and streets, disrupting the public and attacking our police officers, my colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to protect our voting laws which were created for citizens of the United States. Democracy always wins and I am proud to say it was delivered yet again today.”

“As the son of immigrants who worked hard for the American dream, it is disgraceful to see the sacred right of American citizens at risk of a non-citizen receiving that same right in 30 days,” Tannousis continued. “If you are not a citizen then you cannot vote – the political gain and manipulation by New York Democrats will not be tolerated. I am proud to have been a plaintiff on this lawsuit and I want to commend Judge Porzio who struck down the voting law in favor of our lawsuit in 2022. I will continue to fight for integrity and transparency in our electoral process, putting New Yorkers at the top of my priority list.”