non-citizen voting

[Mr. Morden]

I understand that there are some US cities that allow legal residents who are not citizens to vote in local elections.  Have there ever been any US states or individual cities that granted voting rights in *federal* elections to non-citizen residents of the state in question?  Would it be constitutional for them to do so?

[bedstuy]

Yes, in the 19th century many states allowed non-citizens, or people who intended to become citizens, to vote in all types of elections.  There is certainly no clear Constitutional ban on non-citizens voting either.  If you had to make an argument, it would be that many of the suffrage amendments refer to "citizens."  But, that's pretty weak, perhaps a state could allow non-citizens to vote, but would be able to have a poll-tax for non-citizens though. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_foreigners_to_vote_in_the_United_States