Federal Voter Guide Translated in Four Native Languages

The federal election voter guide is now available in the four most commonly spoken Native American/Alaska Native languages, Cherokee, Dakota, Navajo and Yup'ik, languages spoken by about 220,500 Americans.

The guide was translated by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Language Assistance Program to improve voting accessibility for people who speak these languages and have limited English proficiency.

The guide explains the basics of ballot casting as well as special voting procedures, such as early voting, absentee voting and military and overseas voting.

“Part of EAC’s mandate under the Help America Vote Act is to assist states in making voting more accessible to all citizens. These translations are important in carrying out this work,” said EAC Chair Donetta Davidson in a press release issued on May 7.

ACLU Finds Pervasive Voting Rights Violations in Indian Country

American Indians continue to face discriminatory policies and actions that deny them their constitutional right to vote, according to a new report by the American Civil Liberties Union. The report provides a historical overview of systemic discrimination against American Indians limiting their ability to participate in local, state and national elections and highlights ACLU litigation challenging unlawful election practices on behalf of Indians in five western states: Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Yup'ik Speakers to Receive Language Assistance in Bethel Elections

Yupik-speaking voters in Bethel, Alaska, will receive additional language assistance for municipal elections, according to a settlement reached by the city, the Native American Rights Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Yup'ik is the primary language of a majority of citizens in the Bethel region. The settlement agreement follows a lawsuit filed against the city by NARF and the ACLU on behalf of the two local Alaska Natives.

The lawsuit Nick, et al. v. Bethel, et al., remains pending in the federal district court for the District of Alaska against the State of Alaska. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of the same Alaska Natives who agreed to the current settlement as well as two other Alaska Natives and four tribal governments.

Under the settlement agreement, the city of Bethel will provide enhanced language assistance to Yup'ik voters, including trained poll workers who are bilingual in English and Yup'ik; sample ballots for election measures in written Yup'ik; a written Yup'ik glossary of election terms; advance notice of translator services; election announcements on the radio; and pre- and post-election reports to the Federal District Court for Alaska tracking the city's efforts.

Voter Identification: Know What to Bring to the Polls

Native groups like the National Congress of American Indians are mobilizing Indian voters like never before; they are counting on them to make the difference they know they can make. But before they go to polls next week, they need to know what they must have on hand and show poll workers before casting their ballots — we’re talking about identification.

Since the passage of the Help American Vote Act in 2002, the number of states that require voters to show a photo or non-photo ID has doubled from 11 to 25, according to the Pew's Center on the States. Seven states now require voters to present a government-issued photo ID. They include Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan and South Dakota. Another six have legislation pending that would impose the same requirement.

According to the Center for American Progress, some 20 million Americans do not have a driver’s license. These are generally disabled people, elders, impoverished Americans and folks living in metro areas that have mass transit systems. Minorities, including Native Americans, are also among the do-nots.

Some states will accept a tribal photo ID. If the voter does not have an acceptable photo ID, then other identifying documents, such as a utility bill or bank statement, should do.

When identification documents do not meet the poll worker’s muster and the voter is, indeed, eligible to vote, then provisional ballots are usually available. Though rules vary from state to state, these ballots ensure that no one gets turned away.

Use the Vote411.org widget in the sidebar to learn more about your state’s ID requirements.

Polling Places Not Prepared for Record Voter Turnout

This year’s presidential election is expected to be a record turnout year, particularly for Native American voters, who have been rallied over the last few months by local, state and national get-out-the-vote efforts. But a Common Cause report released last month found that polling places may not be well-prepared to handle the massive influx of eager-to-vote citizens.

“Voting in 2008: Ten Swing States,” a follow-up to a report published two years ago that found major flaws in the 2004 election, suggests that 2008 could be a repeat of the last presidential election year — or may even be worse.

Based on a survey of 10 battleground states, the report predicted issues with voter registration, and there have been plenty of them. “Many of the most pressing problems from 2006 have gone unaddressed, or have worsened. States are still failing to comply with certain provisions of the National Voting Registration Act designed to make registration forms more accessible to traditionally disenfranchised voters,” the report said.

As we edge closer to Election Day, the report warns of long lines at polling places, a lack of and inadequately trained poll workers, insufficient language assistance, deceptive practices and disenfranchisement due to voter identification laws.

The states reviewed in the report include Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Court Upholds Voting Rights of Alaska Natives

Late yesterday, a federal court ordered Alaska’s state and local elections officials to provide effective language assistance to citizens who speak Yup'ik, the primary language of a majority of voters in the Bethel region of Alaska. The victory came in a legal challenge brought by Native American Rights Fund (NARF) and the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of four Alaska Natives and four tribal governments.

“This is a huge victory, not only for Yup’ik voters, but for all Alaska Natives who want to participate in the democratic process,” said NARF attorney Natalie Landreth, who is lead co-counsel in the case. “The state of Alaska has recently taken the first step towards complying with its obligations under the law. But as the court recognized, the state’s recent efforts to provide Yup’ik language assistance are ‘relatively new and untested’ over 30 years after Alaska was first required to provide that assistance. Yup’ik voters will remain vigilant to work with the court to make sure the state’s first steps are not its last. Voting is too precious a right to be denied by bureaucratic neglect.”

The order granting NARF and ACLU’s motion for a preliminary injunction is online at: www.aclu.org/votingrights/gen/36220lgl20080730.html