'They're shredding the Constitution': San Francisco appoints non-citizen to its Elections Commission

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - On Wednesday, February 14th, the city of San Francisco appointed its newest member to its Elections Commission; Kelly Wong, who legally is not allowed to vote in this country.

The President of the Board of Supervisors, Aaron Peskin, swore in Wong, who is now reportedly the first non-citizen appointed the commission. Dozens of people gathered during the ceremony, which took place at San Francisco City Hall. During the ceremony, Wong stated that she hopes her "appointment" is a "beacon of hope for other immigrants" currently living in the city.

Wong reportedly immigrated to the United States back in 2019 from Hong Kong as she pursued her graduate studies. She said, "There is always voices inside my head, like, 'You can't do it. You're not competent. You're an immigrant. This is not your country.' That's not true. If I can do it, you can do it."

Her appointment is a direct result of a 2020 voter-approved measure that removed the citizenship requirement to serve on San Francisco boards, commissions and advisory boards. The Elections Commission is comprised of seven members. Each of the member is appointed by a different city official, usually in the capacity of a mayor, city attorney or district attorney.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Wong to the commission. Peskin said in a statement, "I'm very impressed by her commitment to enfranchising people who rarely vote, to educating people about the voting process and to bring in noncitizens and get them the tools they need as they become citizens."

According to Fox News, in an interview prior to the swearing in ceremony, Wong talked about the importance of getting immigrants, especially those who cannot speak English, informed about the voting process. She said, "I've seen how language and cultural barriers prevent immigrants with limited English proficiency from fully exercising their right to vote. Is there a way to do voter outreach that is not just about translation, but can tough on political education while maintaining neutrality and impartiality in elections?"

Wong then mentioned her own struggles navigating voting systems, claiming that this experience allows her to empathize with those she wants to help. She said, "Even though I'm fluent in English, I still encounter challenges in navigating a new system, let along participating in political conversation and activities."

San Francisco Election Commission President Robin Stone told Fox News Digital, "I support the Board of Supervisors' authority and decision to appoint Kelly Wong to the Elections Commission. What's more, as public officers of the City, we respect the law and will of San Francisco voters, who removed the citizenship requirement for commissioners in 2020."

Since 2022, Wong has worked as an immigrant rights advocate at Chinese for Affirmative Action, a civil rights group in San Francisco that focuses on the city's Chinese community. Since commissioners are unpaid, Wong said that she will continue her work as an advocate, helping others who have immigrated from other countries. 

Vincent Pan, co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, said in a statement, "I think that we have to go beyond, 'Are we doing the bare minimum to how we can get everyone fully involved.'" He hopes that Wong's new appointment reasserts the commitment of recent measures to get more San Franciscans civically involved. 

He added, "I'm hoping there will be a day where it won't be as newsworthy that you have someone who's an immigrant and a noncitizen involved in helping make the city run better, especially in a city where such a large percentage of the community is immigrants."