Mayor Eric Adams has pledged to collaborate with Washington’s orders, allegedly in exchange for dropping criminal charges against him. And while many New Yorkers will have the opportunity this June to express their view on this and other Adams’ policies,

the people at the center of this issue — undocumented immigrants and those who are not U.S. citizens — do not.

However, there are still legal ways for noncitizens to participate in the upcoming election.

Perla Silva, the senior civic engagement coordinator at immigration-focused nonprofit Make the Road New York, says as an undocumented person herself, she believes that mobilizing volunteers to educate those who can vote is crucial.

“We will be directly impacted by voters’ decisions, so we take a lot of time to make sure voters understand what is on the ballot, why they should go out and vote,” she said.

If you are not a citizen of the U.S. but still want to make your voice heard as a New Yorker in our local election this year, here’s a guide on how to do that:

Can noncitizens vote in New York City?

As an immigrant, if you have become naturalized since moving to the U.S., you can vote. If you are not a citizen — whether you have a green card, some kind of visa or no immigration status — you cannot vote.

You may have heard about a law passed by the City Council in 2022 that did allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. However, since then, the courts have slapped down that law, and it is currently not in effect.

The Council appealed the decision to the state’s highest court in the hopes of bringing back their policy. The Court of Appeals heard the Council’s arguments last month and will make their decision over the next few months. But until then, noncitizens in the city still cannot vote.

Can noncitizens donate to political candidates?

It depends. Alongside U.S. citizens, permanent residents (aka anyone with a green card) can also donate to city candidates.