Voted in local state polls while a Permanent Resident

E

er96

New Member
I have been a Permanent Resident for more than 15 years and now I want to apply for my US citizenship (I know, I should've done a long time ago) but I have a problem that has been bugging me. About 2 or 3 years ago, I was out on the streets and was stopped by one of those volunteers that make people to register for voting. It was during a time when here in Arizona it was time to vote on various propositions and my question is this: will it affect my Naturalization process because I voted? At that time I knew that I couldn't vote because I wasn't a US citizen but that volunteer told me that it was no problem, that I could vote on state propsitions. I don't remember on what I voted and if the requirements were to be a US citizen. I know that due to my ignorance, I probaly did a big mistake. Can somebody please help me on this? Will it really affect my Naturilization process?
 
That is probably about one of the biggest no-no when it comes to naturalization. I would say that it is bad if one registers, but if one registers and then votes that makes it really bad. How bad I don't have all the experience. I have read several posts about this issue, and the consensus is that it is bad. You will probably hear different opinions, it seems to be ok for permanent residents in some places to vote in LOCAL elections. I don't think that applies to state elections. I would contact a very good lawyer before applying for naturalization. You are not alone, there is a lot of people who have been caught in this situation. They were registered through DMV or by someone who pestered them on the street.

Good luck.
 
Some states allow permanent residents to vote on state-only issues. Call your local election committee and ask them.
 
Voting in an election that is restricted to US citizens is a deportable offense. Find out if that election was restricted to US citizens before applying for naturalization.
 
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