New York state’s top court put an end Thursday to New York City’s effort to empower noncitizens to vote in municipal elections.

New York’s top court has struck down a law that would have let noncitizens vote in New York City elections, with the court’s progressive majority overwhelmingly siding with Republicans who challenged the idea.

After a legal battle spanning more than three years, New York’s top court on Thursday struck down a city law as unconstitutional that would’ve expanded the right to vote in local