League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Francisco County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Proposition D Non-Citizen Voting in School Board Elections County of San Francisco Charter Amendment - Majority Approval Required Fail: 118608 / 45.09% Yes votes ...... 144418 / 54.91% No votes See Also: Index of all Propositions

Arguments For Proposition D

Arguments Against Proposition D

Proposition D gives all parents a voice. It is estimated that at least 1 of out 3 children in San Francisco public schools has an immigrant parent. All parents, regardless of citizenship, will have the opportunity to become an integral part of their child's education and future through the electoral process. It is essential that we expand parental involvement in our schools since greater parental participation is a key element in improving schools, particularly low-performing schools. Immigrant voting has a long history in our country. For the first 150 years of our nation's history - from 1776 until 1926 - 22 states and territories allowed immigrants to vote and even hold office. Over the last three decades, cities and towns in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and New York have passed laws allowing immigrants to vote. Immigrant voting is legal. The United States Supreme Court had repeatedly said that citizenship is not required to vote. The California Constitution protects the right of citizens to vote, but does not exclude immigrants from voting. The California Constitution explicitly authorizes Charter cities such as San Francisco to provide for the manner of electing school board members. Immigrants seeking citizenship face enormous bureaucratic challenges. Government red tape and ICE backlogs can mean a long wait to become a U.S. citizen. Waiting times for common immigration petitions have dramatically increased since 9/11. Please join us in voting YES on Proposition D to give all children a voice in their education! Board of Supervisors President David Chiu and Supervisors Michela Alioto-Pier, David Campos, Chris Daly, Bevan Dufty, Eric Mar, Sophie Maxwell, and Ross Mirkarimi. Rebuttal to Arguments For SHOULD ILLEGAL ALIENS AND THOSE FACING DEPORTATION BE ALLOWED TO VOTE FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF EDUCATION? What Proposition D backers call "Immigrant Voting" does not mean just legal immigrants. Proposition D also proposes that illegal aliens and even those in the process of being deported from the United States be allowed to vote for San Francisco's Board of Education. All that is required is that the alien voter be the parent (or the caregiver) of a child enrolled in a public or private school within the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) boundaries and a de facto resident (legal or illegal) of the City. It is an interesting question whether legal aliens might be allowed to vote for our boards of education on a national basis, but that should be regulated by future international treaties. Such future treaties, if approved by the President and a two-thirds vote of the United States Senate, should also provide for similar voting rights for American citizens who are legal residents of foreign countries. For example, an American who is living in Canada or Mexico might be allowed to vote in foreign board of education elections, in exchange for Canadians or Mexicans being given the same rights here. Proposition D rewards criminal misconduct. Dr. Terence Faulkner, J.D., County Central Committeeman* Arlo Hale Smith, Past BART Board President* Doo Sup Park, State Senate Nominee For identification purposes only; author is signing as an individual and not on behalf of an organization.

PROPOSITION D WOULD ALLOW ILLEGAL ALIENS AND THOSE ABOUT TO BE DEPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES TO VOTE FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF EDUCATION: City Proposition D is a proposed San Francisco City Charter Amendment that would let non-citizens, illegal aliens, and those facing deportation from the United States to vote for the San Francisco Board of Education if they are the parents or caregivers of a child going to a public or private school within the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). The only requirement is that the non-citizen or illegal alien is a resident of the SFUSD. Dr. Terence Faulkner, J.D. Rebuttal to Arguments Against Here are the facts no Prop D: Proposition D is legal. The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that citizenship is not a requirement to vote. The California State Constitution protects a citizen's right to vote, but does not exclude immigrants from voting. The California State Constitution explicitly authorizes charter cities such as San Francisco to provide a means of electing school board members. Proposition D encourages civic participation. Any San Francisco resident who is a parent, legal guardian or caregiver of a child in San Francisco public schools will be allowed to vote on San Francisco School Board elections, provided that they have not been convicted of a felony or currently in prison. One out of three children in the San Francisco Unified School District has an immigrant parent. Allowing parents, regardless of citizenship status, to vote in school board elections is not new. It's allowed in other cities such as Chicago, New York City and Maryland. While most parents are involved in their children's education through parent groups and school site councils, allowing all parents to fully participate in all aspects of their children's education is a common-sense way to encourage full parental involvement. Proposition D will increase parental involvement. Children do better in school when their parents are involved in their education. Allowing all parents to participate in the election of school board members means greater parental involvement that ultimately results in more successful schools. http://www.votepropd.com Board of Supervisors President David Chiu San Francisco Democratic Party San Francisco League of Young Voters