What's happening
This bill requires cities in New York with over one million people to provide language interpreters at poll sites based on local language needs.
Why it matters
Targets local language needs with census data. The bill requires that interpreter coverage at poll sites is based on the most recent U.S. Census or American Community Survey, and this data must be reviewed every two years, ensuring that services adapt as neighborhood demographics shift.
Sets a clear threshold for interpreter provision. Interpreters are mandated only in election districts with at least fifty voting-age residents who have limited English proficiency in a specific citywide language, balancing resource allocation with community need.
Mandates public accessibility and oversight. Interpreters must be stationed inside poll sites and are subject to immediate removal if they violate electioneering rules, aiming to protect the integrity of the polling place while ensuring voters get needed language support.
Allows for flexibility and future expansion. The bill does not prevent boards of elections from providing interpreters for additional languages beyond the minimum required, and it tasks the state board of elections with setting standards for how many interpreters are needed per site, potentially improving voter access over time.
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Who cares
Voters with limited English proficiency
The bill would require interpreters inside poll sites serving an election district 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 the required interpreters and identify qualifying districts using the latest census or American Community Survey data, with biennial reviews beginning January 1, 2022.
State Board of Elections
It would have to set rules establishing interpreter staffing levels based on the number of voting-age residents with limited English proficiency who speak a specific language.
Poll-site interpreters
They would work inside poll sites and face immediate removal from interpreter duties for activity 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 elections
- Print number 4036c
- Amend and recommit to finance
- Print number 4036b
- Amend and recommit to finance
- Reported and committed to finance
- Print number 4036a
- Amend (t) and recommit 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 Poll Site Interpreters
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4036--C
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 26, 2019
Introduced by Sens. GOUNARDES, MYRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08999-12-9
S. 4036--C 2
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 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to provision of interpreters at poll sites in certain cities
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation will help voters who do not speak English well to be able to vote.
Summary of provisions
Section one of this bill amends the Election Law by adding a new section 8-110. Subdivision one of this new section provides that in each city with a population of one million or more that city's Board of Elections, in consultation with the executive office of that city with a population of one million or more, shall provide language interpreters for each language that is designated a city-wide language by the local statutes in that city and for poll sites in election districts that have at least fifty voting age residents with limited English proficiency and primari- ly speak a city-wide language. The determination regarding which poll locations require interpreters, is made by the relevant Board of Elections using United States Census data or American Community Survey Data, whichever is more recent. This determination must be reviewed every 2 years.
Subdivision two of this new section provides that all language inter- preters provided by a Board of Elections pursuant to subdivision one of the section, shall be made available to the public inside the poll site.
Subdivision three of this new section provides that each city's Board of Elections may provide interpreters for languages for which an interpret- er is not mandated pursuant to this new section.
Subdivision four of this new section provides that the State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this new section, including a standard for the number of interpreters required at a poll site based upon the number of voting age residents in an election district with limited English proficiency that speak a specific language.
Section two of this bill provides that 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.
Justification
The right to vote is guaranteed by the United States Constitution. Originally, the right to vote in the United States was provided only to property-owning or tax paying Caucasian men. The expansion of voting rights beyond this group was frequently the result of a long, difficult fight.
The right to vote is a right that should be cherished and exercised. Unfortunately, for many, language barriers make it difficult, if not impossible, to vote. This bill would eliminate communication issues for many limited English proficiency voters, enabling them to be able to exercise their right to vote.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
To be determined EFFECTIVE DATE: 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.