Staff Reports
Los Angeles City Council just voted to put a charter amendment on the November 2026 ballot that would let city leaders later create a noncitizen voting program for city and LAUSD elections. At first blush it looks technical. In truth, it hands politicians the power to decide later who gets to vote — and it leaves plenty of room for surprises no voter signed up for.
What the council actually approved
The motion, filed by Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, directs the City Attorney to draft ballot language so voters can consider a charter change. The City Clerk’s official record shows the council adopted the motion. If voters approve the amendment in November, the council and Mayor Karen Bass would then have authority to write an ordinance defining who qualifies to vote. That means no one gets a ballot now — but a future ordinance could grant voting rights to people who are not U.S. citizens.
A deliberate blank check — and why that matters
The charter amendment is written on purpose to avoid hard limits. It does not say voting must be limited to lawful permanent residents or green card holders. It does not say participants must be living in the country legally. Supporters could have spelled out limits in the charter language but chose not to. That is the point: win approval for a vague change, then fill in the details later. Voters are being asked to trust politicians to draw the line after the election — a trust exercise with predictably shaky odds.
Legal fights and messy logistics ahead
Even if the amendment passes, implementation would be messy and litigious. San Francisco and Oakland tried versions of noncitizen voting and faced court challenges; a judge struck down San Francisco’s school-board plan and more litigation followed. Los Angeles would need to coordinate with the county registrar, build new voter rolls, set verification rules and answer basic questions about IDs and residency — all while inviting lawsuits that could tie things up in court for years. Passing a vague charter change only hands opponents and lawyers something new to fight over.
What voters should demand and a final warning
Voters should watch the City Attorney’s draft ballot language closely. That wording will decide whether this is a narrow change for long-term lawful residents who pay taxes or a broad rewrite that could include people living here illegally. Ask for clear eligibility rules, verification safeguards, and an honest cost estimate. Don’t be fooled by “it’s only a technical fix” rhetoric — this is a power grab dressed up as bureaucracy. Los Angeles residents deserve plain language on the ballot, not a blank check that hands politicians new voting power to spend however they please.
