Payam Javan: RITE has taken legal action against Burlington, alleging that the city’s decision to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections violates Vermont’s constitution. Derek Lyons, RITE’s President, claims this move undermines democracy and reflects an “anti-democratic agenda.”

The lawsuit argues that allowing noncitizens to vote in school commissioner elections, impacting the city’s education budget funded by Vermont taxpayers, is unconstitutional.

This follows similar decisions in Montpelier and Winooski, where such voting rights were granted despite initial vetoes by Gov. Phil Scott, later overridden by the Vermont General Assembly. Lyons warns of broader implications, including potential foreign interference in American elections. Requests for comment from Gov. Scott and Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak were unanswered.