Rules Committee backs sending ordinance to let noncitizen residents vote in San Francisco school board elections

The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 25 to send to the full Board an ordinance amending the Municipal Election Code to reauthorize non–United States citizens to vote in elections for the Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District and in recall elections for Board members.

Supervisor Connie Chan, sponsor of the legislation, asked the committee to forward the item to the Board after public comment and said the change would allow noncitizen residents to participate in the Feb. 15 Board of Education recall election. “I am just asking that after public comments that we move forward this item with recommendation as a committee report for tomorrow's board meeting,” Chan said. She added that, if colleagues vote in support, the ordinance would allow noncitizen residents in San Francisco to vote in the Feb. 15 recall.

Clerk Victor Young reported there were no callers queued for public comment on the item. The committee then took a roll-call vote on Chan’s motion to send the ordinance to the full Board with a committee recommendation. Supervisor Chan voted aye; the vice chair on the roll call voted aye; Chair Aaron Peskin voted aye. The clerk declared the motion passed and the matter recommended as a committee report without objection.

The committee did not record any amendments, public testimony, or objections during the meeting. The ordinance will next be considered by the full Board of Supervisors at the upcoming Board meeting as a committee-recommended item.