In the United States, every federal election (and most non-federal elections) must provide at least one type of accessible voting equipment. Recently, Senate Bill #1, backed by the Republican Party, imposed restrictions on voting that plaintiffs claim unfairly target voters of color. These restrictions include language barriers that prevent people who do not speak English or communicate using sign language from communicating with election officials. The plaintiffs also allege that the law creates obstacles that discriminate against voters with disabilities and deny them full and equal opportunities to participate in the electoral process. In order to ensure that all voters can cast their ballots without interference, any person attending a voter must swear that they will not attempt to influence the voter's vote and will mark the ballot according to the voter's instructions.
It is not true that every voter has someone at home who can help them manage the process. During the early voting period, voters can cast their ballots at any early voting center in the political subdivision in which the elections are held. The Justice Department has taken enforcement measures against jurisdictions that failed to provide crucial election-related information in an official language and did not provide an adequate number of bilingual election officials trained to assist voters. Furthermore, those attending a voter must read the entire ballot unless the voter requests otherwise. Alternatively, if a voter is 65 years of age or older on election day, has a disability, or will be out of the county during early voting hours and on election day, they can request voting by mail.
The voter can choose anyone other than their employer, an agent of their employer, or an official or agent of a union to which they belong. Voters with temporary disabilities can submit a request for a ballot by mail for a specific election at any time during the year of the election for which the ballot is requested, but no later than the closing of usual activities at the office of the early voting clerk or at 12 noon, whichever is later, on the 11th before election day, unless that day is Saturday, Sunday, or statutory state or national holiday, in which case the last day is the first normal business day before. The Justice Department has created a new resource to help election officials provide language assistance to voters who require oral assistance in their minority language. This resource outlines applicable federal and state language assistance requirements and suggests legislative and administrative initiatives that policy makers can promote to ensure deeper participation in civic affairs for Americans who are not yet fluent in English. Additionally, using separate abbreviated codes in Spanish helps reduce language barriers and build trust among Spanish-speaking voters across the county. In a pre-trial order filed by both parties last week, it was stated that Texas enacted this law to prevent fraud, promote voter access and make elections uniform across the state. A federal court overturned provisions of Texas election law that restrict attendance to voters with disabilities and those who speak limited English. The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy.
It is essential that all citizens have access to resources that enable them to exercise their right to vote without facing any obstacles due to language barriers. In Katy, Texas, there are several resources available for limited English proficiency (LEP) voters. These resources include bilingual election officials trained to assist LEP voters as well as separate abbreviated codes in Spanish designed to reduce language barriers and build trust among Spanish-speaking voters. The Justice Department has created a resource outlining applicable federal and state language assistance requirements for LEP voters. This resource provides policy makers with legislative and administrative initiatives they can promote to ensure deeper participation in civic affairs for Americans who are not yet fluent in English.
Additionally, any person attending a voter must swear that they will not attempt to influence the voter's vote and will mark the ballot according to the voter's instructions. Voters with disabilities or those who will be out of county during early voting hours and on election day can request voting by mail. Furthermore, voters with temporary disabilities can submit a request for a ballot by mail for a specific election at any time during the year of the election for which the ballot is requested. It is essential that all citizens have access to resources that enable them to exercise their right to vote without facing any obstacles due to language barriers. In Katy, Texas there are several resources available for limited English proficiency (LEP) voters so they can cast their ballots without interference.
