Five Route 1 towns now allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, a policy aimed at integrating recent immigrants into the community that remains rare nationally.

Earlier this month, the Edmonston town council voted 2-1 to allow non-citizens to vote for races such as mayor and council member.

Non-citizens are not allowed to vote for state or federal offices, but Maryland allows municipalities to maintain their own rules for local elections.

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. In Mount Rainier, voters must be at least 16 and have lived in the city for at least 30 days. And in Brentwood, a “lawful resident” who has lived in the city for at least one year can vote.

Only a handful of municipalities around the country allow non-citizens to vote, although larger cities such as D.C. and San Francisco have also adopted the policy.

Historically, non-citizens could vote in state and federal races a number of states up until the 1920s, when states began to prohibit it. Eight states added even stronger bans earlier this month.

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