Can green card holders vote locally? The answer depends on where the permanent resident lives and what type of election is being held. Lawful permanent residents generally cannot vote in federal or state elections, but a limited number of cities and local jurisdictions allow eligible non-U.S. citizens to participate in certain municipal or school-related elections.
The distinction between federal, state and local elections is especially important because voting rights are not identical across the country. A green card gives an immigrant lawful permanent resident status, but it does not provide the general voting rights associated with U.S. citizenship.
At the same time, local governments in a small number of jurisdictions have created exceptions that allow qualifying noncitizen residents to participate in specific elections. Those rules can apply to permanent residents, although eligibility requirements differ considerably.
Green Card Status Does Not Mean U.S. Citizenship
A green card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows an eligible immigrant to live and work permanently in the United States, subject to immigration laws and the conditions of permanent residence.
Permanent residents can build careers, purchase homes, operate businesses, attend schools and establish long-term lives in the country. They also have many legal rights and responsibilities.
Voting is different.
U.S. citizenship is generally required to participate in American elections. Federal guidance states that noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents, cannot vote in federal, state and most local elections.
This means a person does not become eligible to vote simply because they have held a green card for five years, 10 years or longer.
Federal Elections Are Off-Limits to Green Card Holders
The clearest rule concerns federal elections.
A lawful permanent resident cannot vote for:
- President of the United States
- Vice president
- U.S. senators
- Members of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Presidential electors
Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in elections for federal offices.
This restriction applies regardless of how long someone has lived in the United States. A green card holder who has lived in the country for decades remains ineligible for federal voting unless that person becomes a U.S. citizen.
Permanent residents also cannot simply register as citizens to participate in a federal election.
State Elections Are Also Generally Restricted
The restriction is not limited to presidential elections.
Green card holders generally cannot vote in statewide elections or state legislative elections. Current election rules do not provide a general statewide voting right for noncitizens.
That means a permanent resident generally cannot vote for a governor, state senator or state representative.
The same principle applies even if the person pays state taxes, owns property, has children in local schools or has lived in the state for many years.
Those factors may establish residency, but residency and citizenship are not the same thing for voting purposes.
Local Elections Are Where Exceptions Appear
Local elections are more complicated.
Some local governments have adopted laws allowing qualified noncitizens to vote in particular municipal or school elections. These policies are exceptions to the general rule rather than a nationwide right.
Jurisdictions in California, Maryland and Vermont have adopted forms of noncitizen voting for certain local elections. Washington, D.C., also permits qualified noncitizen residents to participate in designated local elections.
The important point is that these policies do not turn green card holders into general-purpose voters.
A permanent resident may be legally permitted to vote in one local election while remaining prohibited from voting in federal, state and other local elections.
San Francisco Provides a Specific Example
San Francisco is one of the clearest examples of a limited local voting program.
Qualifying non-U.S. citizen parents, legal guardians and recognized caregivers can vote in San Francisco Board of Education elections if they satisfy the city’s eligibility requirements.
The program is narrowly defined.
A qualifying noncitizen must generally be:
- A resident of San Francisco
- At least 18 years old
- A parent, legal guardian or qualifying caregiver
- Responsible for a child under 18
- Connected to a child who lives in the San Francisco Unified School District
- Otherwise eligible under the city’s rules
A person participating under this program does not receive permission to vote in presidential, congressional, statewide or other local elections.
The election system is specifically structured around the school board election.
This is important for permanent residents because registering through the wrong voter-registration process could create confusion about eligibility.
Washington, D.C. Has Broader Local Voting Rules
Washington, D.C., has one of the broadest local noncitizen voting systems in the country.
Beginning with local elections in 2024, qualified non-U.S. citizen residents became eligible to vote in certain District elections.
Under the District’s rules, eligible noncitizen residents may vote for local offices such as:
- Mayor
- District of Columbia Attorney General
- D.C. Council
- State Board of Education
- Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner
They may also participate in certain local ballot measures.
However, the District’s rules specifically do not allow noncitizen residents to vote for federal offices.
The 2026 election materials from the D.C. Board of Elections continue to distinguish between ballots for citizen voters and ballots available to noncitizen residents.
This makes Washington, D.C., an important example of why the type of election matters as much as the person’s immigration status.
Maryland Has Multiple Local Exceptions
Maryland is another important state for permanent residents who are researching local voting rights.
Several Maryland municipalities have adopted local laws permitting noncitizens to vote in municipal elections. The number and scope of these programs vary by jurisdiction.
The rules can cover city elections, local offices or other municipal matters.
A green card holder living in Maryland therefore cannot assume that the rules are identical throughout the state.
Someone who is eligible to vote in a qualifying municipal election in one Maryland community may not have the same right after moving to another city.
The location of the voter and the exact election both matter.
Vermont Also Allows Certain Local Noncitizen Voting
Vermont has municipalities that allow eligible noncitizens to participate in certain local elections.
These programs can cover municipal offices, school-related elections, budgets and local ballot questions, depending on the community.
Again, the existence of a local voting program does not mean every noncitizen living in Vermont can vote in every election.
Permanent residents should check the rules of the specific municipality before attempting to register.
Why “Local Election” Can Be Misleading
The word “local” covers many different types of elections.
For example, a voter might encounter:
- City mayoral elections
- City council elections
- County elections
- School board elections
- Special district elections
- Local ballot measures
- Municipal budget votes
A jurisdiction may allow noncitizens to participate in one category while excluding them from another.
This is why a permanent resident should never assume that being allowed to vote in one local contest means they can vote in every election appearing in their community.
The authorization has to come from the specific law governing that election.
A Ballot May Contain Multiple Types of Elections
Another important issue arises when federal, state and local contests appear together.
A general election ballot can contain candidates for president, Congress, state offices, city offices and local measures.
A noncitizen who qualifies for a particular local election does not automatically become eligible for the other races.
Some jurisdictions therefore create separate ballots or special registration procedures for noncitizen voters.
Washington, D.C., for example, provides sample ballots specifically for noncitizen residents that contain eligible local contests while excluding federal races.
San Francisco similarly limits qualifying noncitizen voters to the school board election covered by its local program.
Green Card Holders Should Be Careful With Voter Registration
Registration is an area where permanent residents should exercise particular caution.
Standard voter registration generally requires an applicant to affirm that they are a U.S. citizen.
A green card holder should not falsely claim U.S. citizenship to register for an ordinary election.
That remains true even if the permanent resident has lived in the United States for a long period.
Where local law specifically permits noncitizen voting, the jurisdiction may provide a separate registration process.
San Francisco, for example, uses a special noncitizen registration process for qualifying school board voters rather than treating them as ordinary registered voters.
The distinction is significant because an incorrect registration can create unnecessary legal and immigration concerns.
Could Voting Affect a Future Naturalization Application?
This is one of the most important issues for permanent residents considering participation in a local noncitizen voting program.
U.S. citizenship applications ask applicants about their voting history. A permanent resident who legally participated in a local election under a law that specifically authorized noncitizen voting is in a different situation from someone who falsely registered as a U.S. citizen or voted in an election for which they were not eligible.
San Francisco’s official guidance specifically warns noncitizen voters about the importance of maintaining documentation showing that their participation was legally authorized.
Because immigration consequences can be serious, a permanent resident who is considering voting under a local noncitizen program may wish to obtain individualized advice from an immigration attorney or another qualified professional.
Federal and Local Rules Can Exist at the Same Time
There is no contradiction between federal restrictions and local voting programs.
Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections. At the same time, federal law does not create a blanket nationwide prohibition against every form of noncitizen participation in state or local elections.
That leaves room for states and local governments to establish limited voting rules where permitted by their own laws.
As a result, the United States has a patchwork system.
One city may allow a qualified permanent resident to vote in a school board election, while another city only permits U.S. citizens to participate.
A person moving from one jurisdiction to another may therefore gain or lose eligibility for a particular local election without any change in immigration status.
Voting Rules Are Changing Across the Country
Noncitizen voting remains an active policy issue in 2026.
Some states have moved toward stronger citizenship requirements for voting, while certain local jurisdictions have considered or maintained programs permitting noncitizen participation in municipal or school elections.
Six states—Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia—have citizenship-related voting measures on their 2026 ballots.
At the same time, local voting policies continue to differ from state-level restrictions.
This makes it particularly important for permanent residents to rely on the current rules applicable to their own jurisdiction rather than information from a previous election cycle.
The Rules May Depend on the City, Not Just the State
One of the biggest misconceptions about local voting is that a statewide answer always exists.
In some states, local governments have adopted their own rules.
For example, Maryland has multiple municipalities with noncitizen voting provisions. Vermont also has municipalities with local voting rights for qualifying noncitizens.
Consequently, knowing that a person lives in Maryland or Vermont may not be enough to determine eligibility.
The city or municipality may need to be identified first.
The same principle applies in California, where local programs can differ substantially from the state’s general election requirements.
What Permanent Residents Should Check Before Voting
A green card holder who believes they may qualify for a local election should take several steps before casting a ballot.
Identify the Exact Election
First determine whether the election is federal, state, county, municipal, school-related or another type of local election.
Check the Jurisdiction
Voting laws can change from one municipality to another. The city, county or school district should be identified.
Confirm Noncitizen Eligibility
Do not assume that every permanent resident qualifies. Some local programs have additional requirements involving residency, parent or caregiver status, age or other factors.
Use the Correct Registration Process
If the jurisdiction provides a special registration form for noncitizen voters, use that process rather than an ordinary voter registration form.
Keep Documentation
If legally voting under a local noncitizen program, maintaining documentation showing why the vote was authorized can be useful, particularly if the person later applies for naturalization.
Ask the Election Office
When there is uncertainty, the local election authority is the appropriate place to confirm the current rules.
So, Can Green Card Holders Vote Locally?
Can green card holders vote locally? In limited circumstances, yes—but there is no nationwide right for permanent residents to vote in local elections.
The overwhelming rule is that green card holders cannot vote in federal or state elections. They also cannot vote in most local elections.
The exceptions are concentrated in a relatively small number of jurisdictions that have enacted laws allowing qualified noncitizens to participate in specific municipal or school elections.
For permanent residents, the safest approach is to look at the exact election and the exact jurisdiction. A green card alone does not establish voting eligibility, and being legally allowed to participate in one local election does not create a general right to vote elsewhere.
As election laws continue to evolve in 2026, permanent residents should verify the current requirements before registering or casting a ballot. The difference between lawful participation in a specially authorized local election and voting in an election restricted to U.S. citizens is significant, particularly for immigrants who may later seek naturalization.