Non-Citizen Appointed to San Francisco Election Commission

Kelly Wong's historic appointment follows a 2020 measure eliminating citizenship requirements for city boards.

Kelly Wong, a Chinese immigrant and immigrant rights activist, was sworn into San Francisco's Election Commission, marking a historic appointment as the first non-citizen to hold such a position.
The appointment follows a 2020 California voter-approved measure eliminating the citizenship requirement for serving on San Francisco boards.
Wong, who arrived in the U.S. from Hong Kong in 2019 for doctoral studies, cannot legally vote but will oversee voter registration, mail-in ballots, polling areas, and election monitoring.
Critics, including Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), express national security concerns and fear increasing Chinese influence, citing President Xi Jinping's 'long game.'
Wong's role aims to increase voting engagement among immigrants and non-English speakers, continuing her work with Chinese for Affirmative Action, an NGO promoting multiracial democracy.