I unknowingly voted as a permanent resident, HELP!

[ChrisMcFisch 1]

Sorry, to read all this and it seems as there were quite a few of these cases last time.

But my question is: who filed all your paperwork to A, get into the country and B, the registration to vote?

Even in your home country it should be the same thing: you can't vote unless you are a citizen...
This is the one of the key points between a GC holder and a citizen. No one can tell me I did not know that.

I did quite some research and I am still in the process of getting my GC and EAD but it seems people really do not have an interest to know what there rights are, what their new homes rules are, etc.
I am reading books about colonial america and the history of the United States, sure it is sometimes oppressive but it is so interesting to get to know more about the country you live in and its cultural habits, traditions, etc...I see that not everyone is like that but I feel like you should at least know what your rights and obligations are.

Hopefully there is a way out of this dilemma but from all the information that I have gathered, this is a serious -and it seems like an unforgivable- mistake you have made. Sorry.


PS: did not know about the situation in NZ. Thanks for sharing.

[Unlockable 7,316]

Another big drawback is that the OP can never file for family (Parents, Siblings) if that was her intentions to be a citizen. But of course that is the least of her worries now.

[charmander 692]

1 hour ago, ChrisMcFisch said:

Even in your home country it should be the same thing: you can't vote unless you are a citizen...
 

For majority of countries this is true; but there are some like Netherlands that let foreign residents vote in mayoral elections.

 

I believe San Francisco recently accepted a proposal to let non-citizens whose children are at school system to vote at school board elections.

[Wizzle 41]

On 3/21/2017 at 6:22 PM, Sara1990 said:

I unknowingly voted in federal election without knowing its illegal. Anybody know what is the first thing I should do that can help me when I apply for citizenship ? other than getting immigration attorney ?

I know it was a really big mistake since I just found out thats its illegal. 

Advice will be appreciated. Thanks

Whao!!! Unknowingly? I'm sorry to read this... How did you get your voter's Card? I mean, they ask you several times, making sure, that you are a US citizen before you vote. ONLY US Citizen are ALLOWED to vote. They take this offence VERY seriously. Contact a very good lawyer. Good luck to you. 

Edited March 22, 2017 by Wizzle

[MyJourney 276]

It is interesting how new immigrants think their vote can change anything and take such a high risk to express their political stance......in the light of low voter turnout issues and the asymmetrical weight of the electoral college. Unless you live in a "swing-state" even born and raised "american to the bones" citizens don't see a point in voting.
Don't apply for citizenship. Illegal voting is CIMT #1. Continue living as an LPR and starting saving up and making plans on living somewhere else. There is life outside the US and you can be happy in another place too, if you try.

Edited March 22, 2017 by MyJourney

[mallafri76 1,012]

16 hours ago, Suss&Camm said:

Edit: just found that form online... question 1: are you a us citizen?

question 2: if you are a us citizen, would you like to register to vote? 

https://www.dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-14A.pdf

So..smth similar is probably the case in mny states.

 

Yep, says the same in Texas. OP hasn't filled out her timeline so I wonder what state she's in?! 

Edited March 22, 2017 by mallafri76

[jken 2]

When you get your green card it lists what you can\not do. It states clearly. 

 

[KurosawaSan 52]

42 minutes ago, jken said:

When you get your green card it lists what you can\not do. It states clearly. 

 

Yeah, I don't buy the "unknowingly" part, mainly because you really have to ignore so many guidelines that are put in your face to do that.

[charmander 692]

6 hours ago, KurosawaSan said:

Yeah, I don't buy the "unknowingly" part, mainly because you really have to ignore so many guidelines that are put in your face to do that.

Yes but at the same time some states don't have any measure to prevent this. I voted in last elections for the first time and not a single person at the voting station asked me to show any form of ID. I was thinking to take my passport with me but they didn't even ask me to show my DL.

 

once the states enforce proof-of-citizenship for voter registration and voting, this nightmare will be over once for all LPRs. Federal government requires proof of citizenship when issuing passports but voting integrity is not considered a priority I guess for the states. 

Edited March 24, 2017 by charmander

[f f 725]

11 minutes ago, charmander said:

Yes but at the same time some states don't have any measure to prevent this. I voted in last elections for the first time and not a single person at the voting station asked me to show any form of ID. I was thinking to take my passport with me but they didn't even ask me to show my DL.

 

once the states enforce proof-of-citizenship for voter registration and voting, this nightmare will be over once for all LPRs. Federal government requires proof of citizenship when issuing passports but voting integrity is not considered a priority I guess for the states. 

that may put an undue burden on lower income people who may not have or could easily get such things. so to protect non citizens from doing something they should know they can't do citizens would be harmed. 

[charmander 692]

14 minutes ago, f f said:

that may put an undue burden on lower income people who may not have or could easily get such things. so to protect non citizens from doing something they should know they can't do citizens would be harmed. 

A lot of Americans don't care about voting anyways. Since 1972, there has never been a presidential election where the voter turnout reached 60%. 1996 elections more than half the registered voters didn't care to vote. 

 

I am just saying the system enforces proof-of-citizenship in certain cases. Issuing passports, enhanced driver's licenses, federal loans, federal welfare benefits, federal employment, etc. they don't take someone's word that they are US citizens in these cases. Voting is considered one of the top civic duties, thanks to Trump's speculation we just talked about the infamous 3 million illegal votes for weeks after the election, I think the system could also do much better. Virginia just passed a bill to enforce proof of citizenship at registration and voting, good for them. At least we won't see a LPR residing in VA dealing with this issue in the future. 

[KurosawaSan 52]

2 hours ago, charmander said:

Yes but at the same time some states don't have any measure to prevent this. I voted in last elections for the first time and not a single person at the voting station asked me to show any form of ID. I was thinking to take my passport with me but they didn't even ask me to show my DL.

 

once the states enforce proof-of-citizenship for voter registration and voting, this nightmare will be over once for all LPRs. Federal government requires proof of citizenship when issuing passports but voting integrity is not considered a priority I guess for the states. 

Absolutely not. Think about it - you go to the store. There are no signs that say "Hey, stealing will get you punished" - you kinda know that. Same applies to voting. When you get your green card, you get all the information related to it, including, and not limited to, your inability to vote. The fact that the state makes it easy to vote does not mean that OP is excused in her actions.

2 hours ago, charmander said:

A lot of Americans don't care about voting anyways. Since 1972, there has never been a presidential election where the voter turnout reached 60%. 1996 elections more than half the registered voters didn't care to vote. 

That is absolutely irrelevant to the topic.

[milimelo 4,572]

The pamphlet that comes with GC has info on what you can and can't do as a LPR. There's also a USCIS booklet - Welcome to the US guide -- now that you're a permanent resident detailing your rights and responsibilities. https://www.uscis.gov/tools/settling-us/welcome-united-states

 

Every LPR should read everything that pertains to them before they make a mistake like this. 

[charmander 692]

8 hours ago, KurosawaSan said:

Absolutely not. Think about it - you go to the store. There are no signs that say "Hey, stealing will get you punished" - you kinda know that. Same applies to voting. When you get your green card, you get all the information related to it, including, and not limited to, your inability to vote. The fact that the state makes it easy to vote does not mean that OP is excused in her actions.

That is absolutely irrelevant to the topic.

I never said or implied OP should be excused of her actions. Not knowing something is against the law has never been an excuse in any context. That being said there is nothing wrong with asking states to protect themselves against non-citizens or non-resident US citizens to vote. You are right stores don't post signs that says stealing will get you punished but they still install surveillance cameras, anti-shoplifting devices in place, which means they try to protect themselves as much as they could. States could do the same. The voter turnout statistics which you think irrelevant to facilitate or promote voting show making things easier simply don't yield to the desired outcome.

[KurosawaSan 52]

@charmander your hypothetical "surveillance cameras" in a polling place is a record with the federal government - you are literally doing yourself a disservice by voting when you are not allowed, as shown by this thread.