For many Asian American voters, finding language translation services can be tricky; and without them, voting can be nearly impossible. That’s why AAVA has launched a translation service for voters! On our website, you’ll find a contact/submission form. There, you can send us any voting-related material for translation. Simply copy/paste the text you need translated or upload pictures of printed materials that need translation, tell us your preferred language, and we will translate it free of charge. AAVA will respond to messages in 5-7 business days.
While you wait, you might find something helpful in existing language translation programs offered by some state governments. Below, you’ll find a list of these services streamlined by state.
Alaska
About Language Assistance: Contains information about hiring bilingual poll workers, has translated election materials, audio translations of election information and translated Public Service Announcements.
California
Language Requirements: Voting Rights Act, Section 203 Language Minority Determinations Memo: New language requirements for Voter Accessibility outlined in a memo from the California Secretary of State to all County Clerks/Registrar of Voters
Language Accessibility Advisory Committee: The Language Accessibility Advisory Committee advises the Secretary of State on issues related to language accessibility of elections and election materials. It provides recommendations identifying and prioritizing activities, programs, and policies to ensure every voter has equal access to the ballot.
Multilingual Services Program: The Los Angeles County Multilingual Voter Services program was established to provide services to voters who need language assistance. Services include translated election materials, bilingual assistance at vote centers, and a bilingual assistance hotline.
2020 Voting Rights Act Compliance and Bilingual Outreach Update: This report entails extended outreach plans for bilingual communities including four federally mandated languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese. In addition, Orange County offers assistance in Persian (Farsi), Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, and Tagalog, as determined by the Secretary of State.
Florida
Language Assistance for Voting: Florida’s Division of Elections website contains information about language assistance resources and counties subjected to language requirements under the Voting Rights Act.
Bilingual Requirements and Best Practices in Florida: The Florida Department of Elections provides a slide deck from 2015 that expands on using data to examine voter populations and processes for providing language assistance to voters.
Illinois
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners: The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners created a website available in English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, Korean and Tagalog.
Maryland
Language Access Toolkit: The Maryland State Government offers a toolkit of practical strategies and examples for developing language access within agencies and jurisdictions that serve Limited English Proficient residents.
Minnesota
Voter Outreach Materials: The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State offers a range of nonpartisan voter education materials for use in community outreach. Outreach materials are available in Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer, Amharic and Braille.
Minneapolis, Minnesota- 2017 Clearinghouse Award Winner: Since 1991, the Student Election Judge Program has engaged high school students ages 16 and older as poll workers on Election Day. The Student Election Judge Program serves multiple goals including increasing the number of election judges who are bilingual in targeted languages.
Oregon
Voter Education and Outreach (VEO) Program: The VEO Program identifies and removes barriers to voting throughout Multnomah County, especially for voters in underrepresented communities and locations.
Texas
Minority Language Requirements: The Texas Secretary of State published an advisory regarding minority language requirements applicable in all elections in Texas. State and federal laws require all voting materials to be translated into Spanish statewide and require the appointment of bilingual clerks in certain election precincts.
Harris County Elections Administrator (TX) 2020 Clearinghouse Award Winner: Following enactment of legislation in 2009 allowing high school students to serve at the polls, the Harris County Elections Office began promoting the poll worker opportunities at high schools. Focused initially on bilingual students who could assist voters with different language needs, the Division of Elections has since expanded the program to address technological support.
Washington
King County Elections and Seattle Foundation partner to fund community-based voter engagement: King County Elections and Seattle Foundation worked together to provide more than $140,000 to community-based organizations to do voter engagement with Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities across King County.