The measure would allow non-citizens who have been lawful permanent residents of the city for at least 30 days, as well as those authorized to work in the US, including so-called "Dreamers," to help select the city's mayor, city council members, borough presidents, comptroller and public advocate. Opponents say the City Council lacks the authority on its own to grant voting rights to non-citizens and should have first sought action by state lawmakers, and a lawsuit is likely to be filed.
A largely lame-duck group of city elected officials is about to saddle New Yorkers with yet another controversial measure that few have clamored for.

The City Council on Thursday approved a measure to allow non-citizen, but legal, Big Apple residents to vote in municipal elections — despite vocal opposition to the "irresponsible" and "dangerous" legislation, a procedural obstacle and threat of a legal challenge.

After an unsuccessful 11th-hour attempt by more than a dozen Democratic and Republican lawmakers to send the legislation back to a committee to be adjusted, the bill passed the 51-member body 33-14 with two abstentions, sending it to Mayor Bill de Blasio's desk.

The bill, sponsored by Councilman Ydanis Rodríguez, will allow hundreds of thousands of non-citizens to participate in local elections by expanding voting eligibility to green card holders — about 10 percent of the city's population — and recipients of deferred action.