What's happening
This bill requires polling places to provide translators if at least 15% of voting-age citizens speak a non-English language at home.
Why it matters
Prioritizes voter access for language minorities. By mandating translation services in districts where 15% or more of the voting-age population speaks a non-English language at home, the bill addresses barriers that could deter eligible citizens from participating in elections.
Relies on up-to-date demographic data. The use of the most recent U.S. Census data ensures that translation needs are determined based on current population trends, making the law adaptable to changing community demographics.
Targets both new and existing districts. The requirements apply not only when districts are created or changed, but also for all current election districts, ensuring comprehensive coverage and consistency across the state.
Ensures on-the-spot language assistance. By requiring at least one poll worker at affected sites to provide in-person translation services upon request, the bill moves beyond translated written materials to address real-time, practical needs of voters during the voting process.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Translators at Polls
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
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 Translators at Polls
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Nader Sayegh
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2098
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 22, 2019
Introduced by Sens. MAYER, BROOKS, LIU, MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to providing translators at certain polling place locations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 4-100 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. a. In creating, consolidating, dividing or altering any election district, the board of elections shall determine the number of citizens of voting age in the district who speak a language other than English at home using the most recent United States Census data. If fifteen percent of the number of voting age citizens who speak a language other than English at home, the board of elections must provide for at least one poll worker that speaks such language at polling places in the district.
b. For any currently existing election district, the board of elections shall determine the number of citizens of voting age who speak a language other than English at home using the most recent United States Census data. If fifteen percent of the number of voting age citizens who speak a language other than English at home, the board of elections must provide for at least one poll worker that speaks such language at polling places in the district.
c. Upon voter request, the poll worker assigned to an election district pursuant to paragraphs a and b of this subdivision, shall provide translation services to the voter in the language that led to their assignment to a given election district.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06034-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to providing translators at certain polling place locations
Purpose
This bill expands language translation services to individual election districts, as needed, to assure that non-English speaking voters are able to understand the vote on the ballot provided, It responds to a direct need to identify those individual election districts with a disproportionate number of non-English speakers, and then to assure that a translator is provided at that election district.
Summary of provisions
Section one establishes that Section 4-100 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 requiring that the State Board of Elections is responsible for identifying the number of voting age citi- zens within an Election District who speak a language other than English at home. If at least 15% of the voting age citizens speak a language other than English at home, each County Board of Elections must provide at least one poll worker that speaks that language at the polling places throughout that Election District. Upon voter request, the poll worker will provide translation services to the voter requesting translation in the language for which he/she was assigned to the polling location.
Section two establishes the effective date.
Justification
When voting age citizens are exercising their right to vote, a language barrier should not impede their ability to vote within elections. In providing a translator at polling locations in which the Board of Elections anticipates a specified level of demand for translation services, the Board of Elections will ensure these citizens are able to cast their votes free from anxiety, confusion or intimidation. In one instance in Yonkers, in an election district in which the vast majority of the voters spoke Korean at home, voters were unable to freely and fully exercise their rights to vote. This bill will ensure voters in such instances will have access to a neutral translator who is a poll worker.
This bill will require that the State Board of Elections identify high non-English speaking election districts, and that each County Board of Elections provide a translator within the polling locations of those election districts that have a high population (15% or more) of voting age citizens who speak a language other than English at home. This expands the current requirements of the federal Voting Rights Act, as amended in 1975, Section 203. That Act requires political subdivisions (mostly counties) to provide minority language assistance for those citizens in localities where there are more than 10,000 or over 5 percent of the total voting age citizens who are members of a single minority language group, have depressed literacy rates and do not speak English very well. This bill expands these protections by requiring language assistance in individual election districts where there is substantial need for translation services based on the percentage of non-English speaking voters.
Prior legislative history
2017: A9642 (Mayer) - Referred to election law 2018: S8588 (Mayer) - Referred to election law
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.