S. 2589: Expanding the Voluntary Opportunities for Translations in Elections Act

This bill, titled the **Expanding the Voluntary Opportunities for Translations in Elections Act**, aims to enhance voting access for language minority groups in the United States. Here’s a summary of its key provisions:

1. Language Minority Notice Requirements

The bill amends Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to clarify and expand requirements regarding voting materials provided in languages other than English. Key points include:

• Definition Expansion: The term "voting materials" now explicitly includes registration notices, voting forms, instructions, and other electoral information, covering both digital and printed formats.
• State Responsibility: States are prohibited from providing voting materials in a way that would violate the language provisions set out in the bill.
• Notice to States: The Attorney General must inform States about the prohibition and any thresholds relevant to compliance.

2. Provisions for American Indian and Alaska Native Languages

The bill specifies additional provisions for voting materials in the languages of American Indian and Alaska Native populations, including:

• Inclusion of Oral Instructions: States must provide oral assistance and translated materials unless notified by the Tribal government that written translations are unnecessary.
• Election Worker Translations: Written translations must be provided to election workers to ensure accuracy in translations.

3. Grants for Language Minority Voting Materials

The legislation establishes a grant program administered by the Election Assistance Commission to incentivize States and political subdivisions to provide voting materials in various languages. Important points include:

• Grants Availability: Funds will assist jurisdictions in covering costs related to providing multilingual voting materials during elections.
• Application Process: Jurisdictions must apply for grants and demonstrate engagement with the covered language minority group.
• Continued Provision Requirement: Jurisdictions receiving grants must continue to provide these materials in future elections unless the population of the relevant language minority decreases significantly.
• Funding Authorization: The bill authorizes $15 million for this grant program.

4. Study on Language Minority Requirements

The bill mandates a study conducted by the Comptroller General to analyze:

• Threshold Reductions: The impact of lowering thresholds for language minority notifications in elections.
• Definition Expansion: The potential inclusion of additional languages, such as Arabic and Haitian Creole, in the definition of language minorities.

A report on the study's findings must be submitted to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment.

Relevant Companies

None found