The Rockville City Council heard public testimony from residents on several voting rights and election recommendations proposed by the Charter Review Commission during a Feb. 6 meeting.
On Dec. 12, the commission presented a full report to the mayor and council, according to the meeting agenda. The mayor and council decided more input from residents was needed, advising staff to schedule a public hearing.
Some of the recommended charter amendments would lower the voting age to 16 and allow any non-U.S. citizen who has lived in the city for six months to vote in city elections. Other recommendations, according to the commission report, included aligning city election schedules with presidential or gubernatorial elections and examining ranked choice voting systems.
Before the Feb. 6 meeting, the immigrant advocacy group CASA and community members gathered outside the Rockville City Hall to rally in support of enfranchising non-citizens. Once the meeting began, other members of the community shared their opinions on the amendments whether through written or spoken comments.
The council also unanimously voted to expand to seven members in 2024 during the meeting, another recommendation made by the commission to increase the council’s engagement with residents.
A vote has not yet been scheduled as the council will continue discussing the proposed amendments during a meeting on Feb. 27. The council may also choose to pass a resolution for a referendum vote, placing the decision in the hands of current voters.
📍Rockville, MD
HAPPENING NOW:
Residents of Rockville have gathered outside City Hall to show their support for expanding voting rights to any person who has been a resident of the City of Rockville for at least 6 months. pic.twitter.com/eY3VkpcQce— CASA (@CASAforall) February 6, 2023
