To vote in New York City elections, it isn't necessary to be a United States citizen; voters just need to have a Permanent Resident card. This is the objective of a group of activists who are trying to convince politicians to pass this law already at work in several cities around the world, but not in the United States, the nation of immigrants.

"If the Big Apple's legal residents could vote in local elections, this city would be more democratic, progressive, and dynamic," said David Andersson, coordinator of the New York campaign and member of the Humanist Party.

Ecuadorians vote in Madrid. Mexicans vote in Amsterdam. Bolivians vote in Brussels and Dominicans in Stockholm.

But in New York City, no Latino is able to vote. Mayor Bloomberg loves to speak of "the city of immigrants," even though he has opposed legal residents having the right to vote for Mayor and for members of City Council.

If New York's legal residents could vote in local elections, both political parties could benefit. They could also be hindered, depending on the neighborhood and on how many legal residents live in a particular area.

"It would be a vindication of immigrants' rights, and would guarantee access to power and greater civic participation, as well as a real opening to social expression," said Arturo Sánchez, member of Community Board 3 in Queens and professor of Urban Planning and Latino Studies at Cornell University.

"In the American War of Independence, the fathers of this nation declared that no one should pay taxes without representation, and the exact opposite is happening. Legal residents pay taxes and they do not have the right to vote,' added Sánchez.

This Cornell professor is a member of the coalition that is pushing for the voting rights of New York City's legal residents, which met recently at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, (BMCC) to study ways of advancing this idea and converting it into law.

It is a difficult process, and if New York achieves it, "then it will open an international dialogue, a much broader conversation," said Ron Hayduk, a political science professor at CUNY, who presented images that day in support of voting rights for the city's residents.

"This is a much more extensive movement, which includes human rights and will guarantee a more responsible, accessible, and representative system of government," said Hayduk.

There were questions between the coalition's members: "What then would be the value of citizenship, and what will happen with those people who could vote in this city and in other nations like Ecuador?" asked Dan Jacoby, the executive director of Grassroots NYC, an organization that seeks to reform the city's government from its foundations.

The question is valid, and it's why Mayor Bloomberg opposes the proposal. "If residents are able to vote, then they have no incentive to become citizens of this nation," the Mayor has said. The incentive could be voting in the presidential and senatorial elections after obtaining citizenship.

"The truth is that politicians are nervous about this initiative because it would transform the rules of the game for seeking their reelection. Thus we must work alongside the labor unions with the goal of applying pressure on the politicians, and making them work full time for this cause," said Charles Hetram Mohan, president of Guyanese-American Workers United.

"We have to recognize that the approval of residents' voting rights would broaden the base of the unions," said Jessica Ramos, associate editor of the SSEU [Social Service Employees Union] Local 371's publication, and candidate for district leader of the Democratic party of Queens.

The attendees of this workshop agreed that politicians should be pressured not to ignore residents' rights and that the elections system is corrupt. One legislator whom they will pressure is Council Member Gale Brewer, tasked with reforming New York City's elections system. "Without her participation, we are lost," said Andersson.

Since the coalition held a demonstration in front of City Hall in 2008, nothing has moved forward because the political climate has not been there. The immigration debate may boost support for residents' voting rights, and the data is encouraging for the members of this coalition:

• 1.3 million New York City's residents are unable to vote in local elections.

• Immigrants pay $18.2 billion in taxes yearly.

• Immigrants voted in elections during this nation's first 150 years.

• More than 65 countries permit residents to vote in local elections.

The coalition needs 26 council members to pass the bill, and so far only 14 have pledged their support. A total of 70 community organizations support this initiative.

"We have to work together and get people to collaborate with us. Community participation is vital," said Martha Chávez, coordinator of New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE).

Anna Dioguardi, director of the Queens Community House, said: "First, we have to speak with people; then we have to explain the legislation to them; and afterwards, answer their questions."

Hervé Andres came from France to speak at the meeting regarding this issue, because he has conducted several studies with respect to residents' voting rights. "I don't know if the current anti-immigrant climate will negatively affect residents' voting rights, but there is one thing I am sure of: this is not an easy issue. It is difficult to raise and difficult to pass. One cannot generalize because experiences vary from one city to another."

During the meeting, Sebastian Maguire, attorney to Council Member Daniel Dromm of Jackson Heights, Queens, explained which steps to follow in order to write and pass a law of this nature. "Writing this kind of bill will take us around 90 days and Dromm supports it, but we must study the best way to speak about this topic, choosing the right words, looking for people's participation, and get attention from the media."

John Moreno, executive director of the Latino Youth for Higher Education, concluded, saying: "What we see are the same politicians doing the same things, and that must change. Even though this is a local law, we should also look for a federal, national strategy and lean on the power of the young people, of the students, and of those who participate in community events."

To reach Council Member Gale Brewer regarding the approval of legal residents' voting rights, call: 212-873-0282. For more information on the coalition, call: 917-378-8758, or e-mail: ivotenyc@gmail.com.

The coalition will meet the first Tuesday of every month to reintroduce this bill, which grants legal residents the right to vote in local elections.