The ruling caps a protracted battle over who is permitted to vote in New York City’s municipal elections and puts an end, for now, to the fight to enfranchise more than 800,000 noncitizens who were legally living, working or going to school in the five boroughs.

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.

A controversial New York City law that would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections is unconstitutional, according to a ruling by the state's highest court on Thursday. The 6-1 ruling by the New York Court of Appeals sided with Republicans who challenged the law,