 He told a crowd gathered at the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade that he believed noncitizens should be granted voting rights.He stressed he was asking for a change in policy, rather than a new law, citing that although 22 states and territories between 1776 and 1920 allowed the practice, none do now.Spitzer issued a statement that he did not agree with Paterson's position, and claimed he was unaware Paterson would be speaking on the matter.