Can I Register To Vote As A Permanent Resident

While United States permanent residents bask many of the aforementioned rights as citizens, voting is not one of them. Light-green carte du jour holders may not vote in federal elections and are generally forbidden from voting in local and state elections as well—though not always.

The most important question is whether it'due south legal for light-green card holders to vote. While in some cases, information technology is legal, every bit long as they see certain criteria, earlier y'all fill out a voter registration card, you must know the police in your state definitively—considering the immigration consequences of merely registering to vote when information technology is against the law are very serious indeed.

hand putting ballot into voting box — A paw putting a ballot into a voting box. Tin a green card holder vote in elections? Unremarkably not!

Who Can Vote in U.S. Elections?

In order to exist allowed to vote in U.S. elections, you need to run into sure requirements. If you don't meet these requirements and endeavor to vote, you'll break the law. Voters need to be:

A U.S. citizen
A resident of the land, co-ordinate to that country's requirements
eighteen years old on or earlier Election Solar day
Registered to vote before your state'southward deadlines

Not-citizens are barred from voting across the land, but even some citizens are not allowed to vote. Felony convictions and mental incapacitation can remove your right to vote, though rules vary from state to state.

Penalization for Voting every bit a Greenish Card Holder

Permanent residents face serious jail time, fines, and even exile from the U.S. for registering to vote, even earlier they actually cast a ballot. Registering to vote as a permanent resident is considered fraud considering you lot'd be impersonating a U.S. citizen.

According to the Washington Postal service, a Texas greenish card holder was sentenced to eight years in prison, and probable deportation afterwards, for voting in elections in 2012 and 2014. Even though the holder was brought here as an infant, 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, simply sometimes its efforts catch green cardholders. Ane example is with driver'south license registration. There is usually an option to register to vote when you lot get or renew your driver'due south license. Sometimes, information technology'due south done automatically unless y'all opt-out.

It's crucial to let the DMV know that you're a permanent resident so that you practice not go registered. If you lot practice end up receiving a voter registration carte, speak with an clearing attorney then that y'all do not jeopardize your clearing status.

Remember, even if you never vote, but registering to vote could get you deported!

Historically, Green Card Holders Could Vote

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, every bit many every bit 40 states and U.South. territories allowed not-citizens to vote in state and sometimes federal elections. Arkansas was the last state to allow not-citizen voting, ending the practise in 1926. Since and then, voting has been a correct reserved only for citizens.

Even if your state allows you to vote in state and local elections as a green carte holder, be wary of registering until you conspicuously know the rules. Y'all do not want to lose your chance at citizenship considering of accidentally registering in a federal election.

How Tin can a Permanent Resident Gain the Right to Vote?

In lodge to vote, you lot must become a U.Southward. citizen. In most cases, the path to citizenship for permanent residents is naturalization. Naturalization is an all-encompassing and expensive process. In club to be eligible y'all must:

Be at to the lowest degree 18 years onetime
Be a permanent resident for at least v years (iii if married to a U.Southward. denizen)
Have been physically present in the U.S. at least 30 months in the last 5 years
Exist able to read, write & speak basic English
Be a person of expert moral character

The application for naturalization is Form N-400. The application itself is long, complex, and includes a fee of $725. Also, you need to have a green bill of fare. Before y'all file Form North-400, it's a expert idea to consider getting help with your application. You lot can have a free citizenship eligibility quiz to prepare.