San Francisco’s civic bodies are now venturing beyond the conventional borders of citizenship. Kelly Wong, an immigrant from Hong Kong, despite not being a legal voter, has been appointed to the city’s Elections Commission, in a surprising move receiving both applause and skepticism. This leap in policy, which represents both the unique diversity and intense political debate in the city, could be pivotal in shaping the future of American politics.
The San Francisco Elections Commission, a civilian group made up of seven members that creates policy and oversees the city’s Department of Elections, has a new member. Kelly Wong, though unable to legally vote, has become the first non-US citizen to serve on this crucial commission.
As an advocate for immigrant rights, Wong sees her appointment as a glimmer of hope for fellow immigrants residing in the city. People may ponder that she’s just an immigrant and doesn’t belong here, but she vociferously dismisses such thoughts. Wong argues that if she can hold public office, so can any other deserving immigrant.
Wong’s appointment can be traced back to a 2020 rule change in San Francisco, removing the mandatory citizenship requirement for serving on the city’s boards, committees, and advisory entities. The officials such as the mayor, the city attorney, or the district attorney appoint each member of the commission. In Wong’s case, the Board of Supervisors unanimously chose her.
Aaron Peskin, the President of the Board of Supervisors, praised and acknowledged Wong’s dedication to empowering seldom voting citizens and educating them about the voting process as a testament to her deserving appointment.
Wong’s primary goal is to ameliorate comprehension and active engagement amid the city’s immigrant and non-English speaking inhabitants. She speaks about the challenges she faces navigating a new political system despite her fluency in English. Surmounting these difficulties, Wong aims to ensure a clear and understandable translation of voting materials into different languages, including Cantonese and Mandarin.
Since 2022, Wong has been an active immigrant rights advocate with Chinese for Affirmative Action. Alongside her voluntary position as a commissioner, Wong aims to help more immigrants navigate the complexities of the city’s political system.
Interestingly, non-American residents aren’t entirely denied voting rights in San Francisco. Proposition N, approved by voters in 2016, allowed non-citizens to vote in school board elections if they had a child enrolled in the district, despite a conservative nonprofit’s unsuccessful lawsuit against it.
Vincent Pan from Chinese for Affirmative Action raised the question of striving for more inclusive politics beyond just providing bare minimum rights to immigrants. With Wong’s appointment as a step towards this goal, it raises the question of how far the city—and potentially the country—will go in blurring the lines between citizens and non-citizens in the political landscape.
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