Assembly Bill Would Allow Noncitizens To Help Voters As Poll Workers
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Certain immigrants who are not U.S. citizens could serve as poll workers in California under legislation heading to Gov. Jerry Brown.
As many as five noncitizens could volunteer in a precinct under AB817 by Democratic Assemblyman Rob Bonta of Alameda. Those poll workers must be permanent U.S. residents who entered the country legally and meet all voting requirements except citizenship.
Bonta says allowing immigrants to serve as poll workers would increase the number of bilingual volunteers who could help voters. A staff analysis of the bill says more than 2.6 million eligible California voters are not fully proficient in English.
The Assembly passed the bill Thursday, 48-22.
Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly of Twin Peaks opposed it, saying noncitizen poll workers would undermine confidence in state elections.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
