Voters in Montpelier have approved a ballot measure to allow undocumented immigrants who are legal residents to vote in municipal elections.

A large majority of voters said yes to the proposed amendment to the City Charter, making Montpelier the first Vermont city or town to allow non-US citizens to vote on local issues.

As a result, said Montpelier City Clerk, John Odum, “all of our neighbors here under these circumstances can be considered citizens of our city.”

Odum said people who are in the US legally through the visa program should be able to vote on issues that affect them.

“[At the] annual city meeting I would hear from at least one person asking me why they, or why their spouse can’t participate in municipal election, because they’re taxpayers, they own property, they have kids in high school,” said Odum.

Odom said the charter change must go before the State Legislature for approval and be signed by the governor.

Montpelier resident Kelty Edraney said it’s the right thing to do.

“Making sure that maybe the voices that aren’t traditionally heard as much are actually given an in because they live here, they’re apart of the community,” she said.

Others, however, said they voted no on the ballot item because they believe non-citizen voters don’t understand the government or the election process enough to cast an informed vote.

Montpelier resident Ann Burcroff disagreed.

“My experience and I have worked with quite a few new Americans that have come into the country, they are more informed than many people who were born here,” she said.