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After losing in Supreme Court and at the Appellate Division, supporters of the New York City law to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections recently filed their notice of appeal with the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. In its February decision, the Appellate Division found that our state constitution protects the rights of citizens — and only citizens — to vote. The Appellate Division was correct, and its decision to invalidate this radical and unconstitutional New York City law must stand.

Our state constitution, unlike the U.S. Constitution, explicitly protects the right to vote. Under our state constitution, however, the right to vote can only be exercised by citizens. Neither the state government nor any local government in New York may grant a right to vote to noncitizens.

The New York City law that was challenged isn’t just........

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