Voting in English

When English speakers have a hard time figuring out when “yes” means “no” on a ballot initiative, imagine how confusing it can be for people who have English as a second or third language.  

Limited English Proficiency (LEP) voters need help at the polls. The good news is that an interpreter is allowed to translate the language on the ballot. The bad news is that there aren’t always enough interpreters on site.

In a recent call for bilingual attorneys, law students and interpreters in any language, the Obama campaign is making it easy to volunteer.

Offering a Web sign up form the campaign is also offering a number of contacts with the Democratic National Committtee (DNC) if you want to get more information:

Please indicate state and language. Interpreters sign up at: election.interpreter@gmail.com. Please indicate state and language.

• Sam Jammal at sjammal@gmail.com  for the DNC Latino Task Force

• Gloria Chan at gloria@democraticlawyers.org for the DNC Asian American Pacific Islander Task Force

• Isabel Framer for the Interpreter Task Force at: isainterp@aol,com

It’s getting close to election time, but if you can help for a few hours, it means that many more voters will get to participate in this election.