Noncitizen voting measure fails to make Nov. 3 ballot in L.A.

[Noncitizens, from A1] submitting a lengthy list of proposals to the council.

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Two weeks ago, council members declined to draft a measure expanding the number of council seats to 25, up from 15, saying it needed more study. They also held off on a proposal to move to ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to list candidates in order of preference. Both had been recommended by the commission.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, who represents an Echo Park-to-Hollywood district, voiced frustration over the results.

“It’s almost laughable,” he said. “We have nothing to show for it. A years-long process, and engaging the entire city, and we have nothing significant to show for it.”

Soto-Martinez had been the chief proponent of the proposal to expand noncitizen voting rights in L.A. But on Tuesday, he announced he would join his colleagues in withdrawing the proposal, saying he had been hearing concerns from members of the Black community.

MPAC Los Angeles, or Mobilizing Preachers and Communities, sent Soto-Martinez a letter on Sunday saying his proposal could “unintentionally expose vulnerable residents to greater scrutiny, political attacks, and fear.”