What's happening
This bill requires cities in New York with over one million residents to provide language interpreters at poll sites based on local language needs.
Why it matters
Targets specific needs by requiring interpreters only for languages spoken by at least fifty voting-age residents with limited English proficiency in a given election district,. ensuring resources focus where language barriers are most significant.
Mandates regular review (every two years) of local language needs using the most recent census or American Community Survey data,. allowing interpreter provisions to adapt to shifting demographics and newly emerging communities.
Requires interpreters to be present inside poll sites and subjects them to removal if they violate electioneering rules,. aiming to both enhance voter access and maintain the integrity and neutrality of polling places.
Allows boards of elections to provide interpreters for additional languages beyond those required,. giving local authorities flexibility to respond to unique or unexpected language needs in their communities.
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Who cares
Voters with limited English proficiency
The bill would require interpreters inside poll sites serving election districts with at least 50 voting-age residents who have limited English proficiency in a designated city-wide language.
Boards of elections in cities with at least one million residents
They would have to provide qualifying language services and identify covered districts using the latest census or American Community Survey data, with reviews every two years beginning January 1, 2022.
State Board of Elections
It would have to set rules establishing interpreter staffing standards based on the number of voting-age residents with limited English proficiency who speak a specific language.
Poll-site interpreters
Those provided under the bill would work inside poll sites and face immediate removal from their duties for activities violating Election Law section 8-104(1).
Headline styles
Require Poll Site Interpreters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to election law
- Print number 6075b
- Amend (t) and recommit to election law
- Print number 6075a
- Amend (t) and recommit to election law
- Referred to election law
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Poll Site Interpreters
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Andrew Gounardes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6075--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 26, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE, CYMBROWITZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to provision of interpreters at poll sites in certain cities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 8-110 to read as follows:
§ 8-110. Board of elections, in consultation with the executive office of any city with a population of one million or more; provision of interpreters. 1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any board of elections in a city with a population of one million or more shall, at a minimum, provide interpreters for all languages that are designated city-wide languages pursuant to section 23-1101 of the administrative code of the city of New York or other applicable statute at all poll sites that contain an election district with at least fifty voting age residents whose limited English proficiency language is a designated city-wide language. The voting districts with at least fifty voting age residents with limited English proficiency shall be made by the board of elections based upon the most recent United States census data or American community survey data, whichever is more recent, and beginning on January first, two thousand twenty-two, such data shall be reviewed every two years. Unless an election district has at least fifty voting age residents with limited English proficiency who speak a specific city-wide language, an interpreter for such city-wide language shall not be required for any poll site in such election district.
2. All interpreters provided by a board of elections pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall be made available to the public
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08999-13-9
A. 6075--B 2
inside the poll site. Any interpreter who engages in any activity in violation of subdivision one of section 8-104 of this article shall be immediately relieved of his or her duties as an interpreter.
3. Nothing in this section shall restrict or prohibit a board of elections from providing interpreters for languages that are not required pursuant to this section.
4. The state board of elections shall promulgate rules and regulations that include establishing standards for the number of interpreters that will be required at each poll site based upon the number of voting age residents in an election district with limited English proficiency that speak a specific language.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.