Language Rights in Voting

Voting can be a complicated process for anyone. For citizens whose first language is not English, the process is even more difficult to navigate. Nearly one-third of Asian Americans have some difficulty communicating in English, making voting that much more intimidating. Voters have rights to assistance in voting if they have difficulty communicating in English.

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Advancing Justice | AAJC and APIA Vote run a hotline where voters can get answers to their questions about voting and receive assistance in nine Asian languages. Call 1-888-API-VOTE or 1-888-274-8683 for assistance.

You may have the right to in-language assistance and materials when you vote 

Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act 

Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires certain counties and jurisdictions to provide bilingual voting assistance in communities with large numbers of language minorities and limited-English proficient (LEP) citizens, was enacted by Congress in 1975 upon recognizing that certain minority citizens experienced historical discrimination and disenfranchisement due to limited English proficiency. This means that all information provided in English must also be provided in the covered languages, including written materials, oral assistance at polling sites, and publicity prior to Election Day about the availability of language assistance at polling sites.

Section 203 Fact SheetYour Right to Language Voting Assistance (Bilingual translations available in Bengali, Hindi, Hmong,  Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese)

Linked here


Section 208: You have the right to bring someone to help you in the voting booth

One tool that LEP voters can easily use to participate in elections is to bring someone to help in the voting booth. Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act allows voters needing assistance because of blindness, disability, or the inability to read or write, including voters who have difficulty with English, to bring someone (who is not their employer or union representative) into the voting booth to help them understand and cast a ballot.

Section 208 Fact Sheet: Your Right to Bring Someone to Help You in the Voting Booth (Available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Khmer, Punjabi, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu, and Vietnamese)

Linked here


Section 208

Call 1-888-API-Vote for in-language help on Election Day 

Advancing Justice | AAJC and APIA Vote run a hotline where voters can get answers to their questions about voting and receive assistance in eight Asian languages. Call 1-888-API-VOTE or 1-888-274-8683 for assistance.


Community Leader Guide to Language Accesa

Community Leaders' Guides to Language Access 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and partners provide language assistance guides for election officials, policymakers, and community leaders to prepare themselves to be ready to assist voters from different language backgrounds.


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