Image copyright Getty Images Image caption New York was the first US city to adopt affirmative action for non-citizen workers in the 1970s
US city of New York has become the first to give non-citizens the right to vote in local elections.
Non-citizen foreigners living in the city will now be able to vote in local elections in certain low-level city council and mayoral races.
The measure applies to people living in New York City who have lived for two years.
It will be implemented in 2021. The city council has not yet determined which municipal positions could fall under this new category.
There are currently more than five million non-citizens in the United States, including around 450,000 undocumented immigrants.
The primary basis for voting rights in New York is its constitution, which has a variety of articles to protect the right to vote in municipal elections.
“New York City has taken an important step towards greater inclusion by helping city residents who are not citizens to participate in the democratic process,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement.
“This law will not only provide more legal permanent residents with access to more municipal elections, but also send a signal that immigrants will be welcomed in this city. This is an important step toward being the nation’s best city,” he added.