Home › Law for Everybody › The Right of Suffrage

The Right of Suffrage

The right to vote comes from the State, and is a State gift. Naturalization is a Federal right, and is a gift of the Union, not of any one State. In nearly one-half the Union aliens (who have declared intentions) vote and have the right to vote equally with naturalized or native-born citizens. In the other half only actual citizens may vote. The Federal naturalization laws apply to the whole Union alike, and provide that no alien may be naturalized until after five years' residence. Even after five years' residence and due naturalization, he is not entitled to vote, unless the laws of the State confer the privilege upon him, and he may vote in one State (Minnesota) four months after landing, if he has immediately declared his intention, under United States law, to become a citizen.