[[{“value”:”A woman who is not permitted to vote in the United States was appointed by the San Francisco Elections Commission.
Kelly Wong, a Hong Kong-based immigrant rights activist, was the primary non-citizen to be appointed to the seven-member human commission.
The organization oversees and develops policies for the city’s Department of Elections, according to public radio station KQED in the Bay Area.
Fox News reports that” San Francisco voters removed the citizenship requirement for those running for office on city boards, commissions, and expert bodies in 2020.”
On Wednesday, a woman who is not even eligible to vote in the United States was sworn in to the Elections Commission in San Francisco.
Kelly Wong, an immigrant from Hong Kong, is thought to be the first photograph, according to KQED, a people news source in Northern California. 4P5eWH3CE1 on twitter.com
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerder ) February 19, 2024
According to Fox News:
Wong, an expat rights activist who immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong in 2019 to pursue a graduate degree, took the oath of office in San Francisco City Hall.
Aaron Peskin, president of the Board of Supervisors, presided over the ceremony as “dozens of people gathered to commemorate the occasion,” according to the outlet.
The Board of Supervisors in San Francisco overwhelmingly voted in favor of Wong. She discussed getting over her doubts about getting the job with KQED.
” Vogues are constantly inside of my head. such as” You ca n’t do it.” You’re never qualified. You are an immigrant. This is not where you live. That is untrue. If I can do it, you can too, she assured the media outlet.
Peskin had higher praise for Wong, particularly for her capacity to engage, enfranchise, and assist non-citizens in obtaining citizenship.
He said,” I’m quite impressed by her dedication to educating people about the voting process, granting citizenship to those who hardly ever vote, and bringing in noncitizens to provide them with the resources they require as citizens.”
NEW: The Elections Commission appoints the second noncitizen from San Francisco.
Kelly Wong, a Chinese immigrant who is not permitted to vote in the United States in 2019, will be in charge of running and formulating policies for the San Francisco Department of Elections.
Wong is a proponent of immigration rights. gPvtSs4aZZ on twitter.com
— I Meme Therefore I Am February 17, 2024 ( @ImMeme0 )
According to KQED:
Wong stated that she wants to boost engagement among the city’s expat and non-English speaking communities by drawing on her personal experience. Anyone who has studied San Francisco’s ballot knows that it can be just as perplexing for native English speakers to understand the numerous proposals, their justifications, and the ranked-choice voting system in the city.
Before Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony, Wong said in an interview with KQED,” Even though I’m proficient in English, I nevertheless encounter challenges in navigating a new system, let alone participating in social conversation and activities.”
Wong noted, for instance, that there is n’t an equivalent term for the word “reparations” in Cantonese or Mandarin. One of her top priorities is to make sure that voter materials are translated in a way that people can understand.
I’ve observed how immigrants with a low level of English proficiency are unable to completely exercise their right to vote due to language and cultural barriers, according to Wong. Is it possible to engage voters in voter outreach that goes beyond translation and includes social education while upholding election objectivity and neutrality?
Wong has been representing immigrant rights at Foreign for Affirmative Action, a San Francisco-based civil rights organization that emphasizes the Taiwanese community, since 2022. Wong will continue her work as an advocate because commissioners are not paid, assisting individuals like Christina Ouyang, who came to this country from China 13 years earlier.”}]] [[{“value”:”
San Francisco’s Elections Commission named a woman who’s not legally allowed to vote in America.
Kelly Wong is an immigrant rights activist from Hong Kong. She was the first non-U.S. Citizen to be appointed to the seven member civilian commission.
According to Bay Area Public Radio Station KQED, this body oversees the city’s Department of Elections and creates policies.
Fox News reported that San Francisco voters removed the requirement of citizenship for those seeking office in city boards, commissions, and advisory bodies in 2020.
“A woman, who does not even have the right to vote in the United States, was sworn in as a member of San Francisco’s Elections Commission Wednesday.”
Northern California public news site KQED reported Thursday that Hong Kong immigrant Kelly Wong ‘is believed to be the first… pic.twitter.com/4P5eWH3CE1
Chief Nerd February 19, 2024
Fox News:
Wong, a Hong Kong-born immigrant rights activist who came to the U.S. in 2019 to pursue graduate studies, was sworn into office at a ceremony held in San Francisco City Hall.
The Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin presided over the ceremony, while “dozens of individuals gathered to celebrate the occasion,” according to the outlet.
Wong was unanimously elected by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She spoke with KQED on how she overcame her doubts to become the new supervisor.
“There’s always voices in my head. Like, ‘You can’t do it. You’re not competent. You’re an alien. This is not your home. “If I can do this, you can too,” she told the outlet.
Peskin praised Wong for her ability to engage, enfranchise and help non-citizens gain citizenship.
He said: “I am very impressed by her dedication to enfranchising those who rarely vote, educating people on the voting process, bringing in noncitizens, and giving them the tools they require to become citizens.”
NEW: San Francisco Appoints First non-citizen on Elections Commission.
Kelly Wong, who is not legally allowed to vote in the U.S. but came from China to the U.S. as of 2019, will be overseeing the San Francisco Department of Elections and creating policies.
Wong is immigrant rights… pic.twitter.com/gPvtSs4aZZ
I Meme Therefore I am (@ImMeme0), February 17, 2024
KQED Reports:
Wong, who draws on her own experience, wants to increase engagement in the city’s non-English-speaking and immigrant communities. Anyone who has read San Francisco’s ballot will know that it can be equally confusing for native English-speaking voters to decipher all the propositions, arguments and the city’s ranking-choice voting system.
“Even though my English is fluent, I still have difficulty navigating a system, let alone taking part in political conversations and activities,” Wong told KQED in an interview before Wednesday’s swearing in ceremony.
Wong wants to make sure that all voter materials are translated so that people can understand them. She pointed out that, for example, there is no equivalent term in Cantonese and Mandarin for the word “reparations”.
Wong said, “I’ve seen the language and cultural barriers that prevent immigrants with limited English skills from fully exercising their rights to vote.” “Is there any way to reach out to voters that does not only involve translation, but also includes political education and maintains neutrality and impartiality during elections?”
Wong has been doing this type of work since 2022 as an immigrant’s rights advocate for Chinese for Affirmative action, a civil right group in San Francisco which focuses on the Chinese community. Wong, who is not paid, will continue to be an advocate for people like Christina Ouyang. She immigrated from China 13 year ago.
“}]]
