Three towns along the Route 1 corridor allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, a policy aimed at getting new immigrants more involved that is gaining ground nationally, and now Washington, D.C. is considering its own measure, which would affect some 51,000 foreign-born residents.

Hyattsville allows 16-year-olds who have lived in the city for at least 30 days before Election Day to vote in local races, regardless of citizenship. In Riverdale Park, they must live in the city for at least 45 days. And in Mount Rainier, voters must be at least 18.

In all, 11 Maryland towns allow non-citizens to vote, out of just 15 in the entire U.S.

Although these measures only allow voting in local races, historians say that non-citizens were able to vote in local, state and federal elections at various times in 40 states from the founding of the country until 1926, especially when territories were looking to attract immigrants or boost their population to achieve statehood.

Some members of Congress are seeking to block the D.C. proposal, and several states have moved in recent years to bar local governments from allowing non-citizen voting, but for now it looks safe in Maryland.

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