The newest member of the San Francisco Elections Commission, a seven-member civilian body that oversees and creates policy for the cityâs Department of Elections, isnât legally allowed to vote.
Kelly Wong, an immigrant rights advocate, is believed to be the first noncitizen appointed to the commission. At a swearing-in ceremony administered by Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin on Wednesday at San Francisco City Hall, dozens of people gathered to commemorate the occasion.
Wong said she hopes her appointment is a beacon of hope for other immigrants living in the city.
âThere are always voices inside my head. Like, âYou canât do it. Youâre not competent. Youâre an immigrant. This is not your country.â Thatâs not true,â said Wong, who immigrated to the U.S. in 2019 from Hong Kong to pursue graduate studies. âIf I can do it, you can do it.â
Wongâs appointment is the result of a 2020 voter-approved measure that removed the citizenship requirement to serve on San Francisco boards, commissions and advisory bodies. Each of the commissionâs seven members is appointed by a different city official, such as the mayor, city attorney or district attorney. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Wong.
âIâm very impressed by her commitment to enfranchising people who rarely vote, to educating people about the voting process, and to bring in noncitizens and get them the tools they need as they become citizens,â Peskin said.
Drawing on her lived experience, Wong said she wants to increase engagement among the cityâs immigrant and non-English speaking communities. Anyone who has delved into San Franciscoâs ballot knows it can be just as confusing for native English speakers to decipher the myriad propositions, their arguments, and the cityâs ranked-choice voting system.
âEven though Iâm fluent in English, I still encounter challenges in navigating a new system, let alone participating in political conversation and activities,â Wong said in an interview with KQED before Wednesdayâs swearing-in ceremony…
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE… (kqed.org)
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