The foreign vote

By Jason Moore I don't really understand all the controversy which has broken out over foreign voting rights in the Balearics. The Spanish government has recently announced that citizens from countries outside the European Union will be able to vote in local election. The one proviso is that their paperwork is in order. A recent opinion poll in the Balearics said that the majority of local residents were opposed to extending the vote to so-called immigrants. Why? At the end of the day only Spaniards are allowed to vote in polls to elect the government in Madrid and the governments of the various regional promises. Foreigners can only vote in local elections for their Mayor or in the case of Europeans, the European elections. Surely, if you live in an area you should be able to elect your own council? I am of the opinion that foreigners should be able to vote in all elections. If you are legal in Spain and you have obviously made the country your home then you should be able to vote. Will all these new voters alter the political landscape? Well, that is up to the main political parties to make sure that their message gets across to all. Could the foreign vote decide the outcome of some key places? Yes, but surely this all paty of the democratic process. We are living in a multi-cultural society and the views of all should be taking into account on election day.