With around 8% of the U.S. population not speaking English fluently, voting can be challenging for eligible voters with limited English skills. Many non-English speakers struggle to fully understand ballots and election information, which can limit their participation in elections.
Federal Language Assistance under the Voting Rights Act
In 1975, an amendment to the Voting Rights Act aimed to make voting more accessible for non-English speakers by requiring certain jurisdictions to provide ballots and election information in other languages. However, not every jurisdiction is required to do so — they must meet specific criteria.
Criteria for Translated Ballots
A state or county must provide translated voting materials if:
- Over 5% of the voting population isn’t proficient in English, OR
- There are more than 10,000 eligible voters with limited English proficiency, AND
- The percentage of the non-English proficient voting population with less than a fifth-grade education exceeds the national average.
Currently, 331 jurisdictions meet these criteria, up by 68 since 2016. These areas provide translated election materials in various languages, with Spanish being the most common, followed by Chinese, Vietnamese, Navajo, Choctaw, and Filipino.
Gaps in Language Coverage
Although the Voting Rights Act helps many voters, advocates argue that the law doesn’t cover enough languages, leaving out some groups, particularly those from the Middle East and North Africa. Expanding language assistance is a focus for advocates working to make voting more accessible to all.
Support for Non-English Speakers
If you or someone you know needs assistance voting in a language other than English, a number of organizations can help. Many nonprofit and advocacy groups provide multilingual voter education resources and assistance, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need guidance with voting materials or understanding the process.
