City officials have taken the first step toward placing a measure on the November ballot that would allow non-citizens to vote in Los Angeles local elections, based on the principle that those who live in and contribute to the city should have a voice in its governance.

CBS intereviewed Zev Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles Initiative, who noted that the proposal is likely to be controversial and faces significant uncertainty ahead of the vote.

“I think there are a number of issues that have to be resolved before they can even execute this. First of all, voters are going to have a chance to weigh in. They have to decide to do it. Whether they will approve it or not is up in the air. I suspect it will be controversial. And secondly, if they do approve it, that only gives the city council the authority to do it. The city council would then have to execute that plan, and that could take some time.”