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  USNinJapan2 at 11:04 AM JST - 3rd May

  gonemad

  Why? Precisely becauset citizenship means you have the right to vote. You want to vote in a certain country's elections? Immigrate and become a citizen. The right to vote should require no less a confirmation of patriotism and sincerity. Sorry but I don't believe that suffrage should ever be transferrable from nation to nation, let alone more easily than say a cell phone service contract...

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  BrightEyes at 12:45 PM JST - 4th May

  Yes, of course non-Americans should be able to vote in the U.S. Presidential election.

  Just as soon as they move to the U.S., establish residency, pay U.S. taxes, register with the Selective Service, spend a certain amount of time living in the country, say about five years, learn about the country and its history, pledge their loyalty to the U.S and renounce all allegiance to any foreign state.

  Then I don't see any reason that they shouldn't be permitted to vote.

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  boonme at 01:07 AM JST - 5th May

  I think this is a very interesting question. America has great influence over the rest of the world. Many people benefit and many also suffer from the decisions made by a few. The U.S. started an illegal war recently, killed thousands of innocent people, destroyed a sovereign country all based on lies that it created in order to sell the war to its voters. What message are they sending the rest of the world. Perhaps great power, such as the U.S. wields, shouldn't be in the hands of so few individuals. Particularly when the majority of those voters are idiots. I for one don't want my kid's future to be decided by a group of muppets who live on another planet from the rest of us.

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  thepossum at 01:57 AM JST - 5th May

  "I think this is a very interesting question. America has great influence over the rest of the world."

  Well maybe the rest of the planet needs to get off it's collective duff and get with the program. It can do so by stop expecting America and Americans to deal with all "their" problems ! The US has had to bail out one nation after another over the past 100 years and we're gettin' damned tired of it ! WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Bosnia, Africa, the Middle East ! Non of those places in "our" backyard or under "our" direct control since 1900 ! You Europeans been real good about causing a stink then bailing out... Vietnam the best example. Or worse yet, just letting things smolder until the powder kegs explodes... WWI,WWII, Bosnia, Africa, The Middle East ! Once again Japantoday has asked a totally stupid question to get you all "non-Americans" to point fingers at everyone else but yerselves ! Shame on you !

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  CMEANDU26 at 07:53 AM JST - 5th May

  I can't believe that this question is still on here. When you become an American Citizen then you can cast your vote. Until then just sit back and watch.

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  USNinJapan2 at 11:49 AM JST - 5th May

  boonme

  Wow, you're feeling pretty entitled aren't you? You want to have a say in world events, I mean, American domestic affairs? Then sign right up, get in line and we'll talk again in a few years. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

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  Sarge at 11:55 AM JST - 5th May

  boonme - "I think this is a very interesting question"

  I thnk this is a very dumb question myself.

  "Particularly when the majority of those voters are idiots"

  Yeah, well, we idiots will continue to be the leading light and hope of the world.

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  Orangeporange at 04:17 PM JST - 5th May

  Only if they are citizens.

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  buddha4brains at 09:35 PM JST - 5th May

  "It can do so by stop expecting America and Americans to deal with all "their" problems!"

  Yeah, it is not as if America and Americans have a sense of destiny that compels them to dominate where ever they go.

  Anyway, don't worry ol'possum Bush's folly in Iraq and other foolishness has helped many countries to stop relying or depending on America. China, Russia, India and even Brazil among others are happy to forget about America and the ideas that America were suppose to represent.

  As for the vote, why bother? Better to ignore and invest one's money and interest elsewhere.

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  amerijap at 03:38 AM JST - 6th May

  If they have been living in the US for a long period(let's say, over 10 years), or if they are filing for an immigration visa or a permanent resident card, and granted, the answer is absolutely yes. It means that you have strong ties with the US(as much as your home country), and are willing to settle in the US and live your life like local citizens in the future. The biggest challenge for resident aliens is that you cannot have the voting rights without registration(except North Dakota, if I'm correct), and, in most states, you are not eligible for voting registration with non-immigrant visas. It's a real bummer seeing the upcoming election passing before my eyes.

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  Blue_Tiger at 01:19 PM JST - 6th May

  I don't get to vote for Prime Minister or for Parliamentary Representation as a non-citizen resident of Japan, why should it be any different for the Election of the President of the USA?

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  frontandcentre at 03:15 PM JST - 7th May

  People might be surprised by my answer, but I'd say absolutely not. To do so would require reciprocal rights and think who Britain would have as a PM then....

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  brotokyo at 07:55 PM JST - 7th May

  Just got round to seeing this silly question. And to think under the Popular Post section. Let me see if I got this right, non-Americans, from my understanding, can vote for all-star players in American major league baseball--great for the many Japanese players who have jumped ship and play over there, and great for major league baseball that they have jumped ship. So, now you now want to vote for not only baseball players in the USA, but also have an equal say in the presidential election as well? Wow! What a jump. Gee, I can't wait to see who hundreds of millions of Chinese will choose. Yeah, right, enfranchise a people that are disenfranchised in their own country. And who was that Indian-American guy last year on American Idol that remained in the running deep into the top ten--lots of curious cell phone votes coming from somewhere. And I hope Japanese voters know the difference between a presidential erection and presidential election. Will there be like a spelling test so that if a candidate named Rhodes and another named Rose will be distinguishable for our voting friends in this society?

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  OssanULTRA at 02:16 AM JST - 9th May

  "And I hope Japanese voters know the difference between a presidential erection and presidential election."

  During the Clinton presidency I felt that this didn't make much difference.

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  OhioDonna at 03:42 AM JST - 9th May

  Good point possum! Where would Japan be if we Americans would stop buying their stuff? Reciprocal voting rights? I wonder how that would change the face of world politics?

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