For all state elections, voting instructions will now be available in all polling places on Election Day in the three most commonly spoken non-English languages in the state. Currently, those languages are:
Instructions on “How to Vote” in these three languages will be posted in the polling place and available for use by voters when casting a ballot. A translated notice will also be posted in three languages indicating the availability of these instructions.
Additional translated posters have been printed and will be available for reference at the polling place. All of these posters are available for download on the polling place posters webpage.
The Office of the Secretary of State worked with the State Demographer to identify language minority districts where three percent or more of the population in a corresponding census tract speak English "less than very well" according to the most recent census data. The language minority district spreadsheet includes the designated tracts, language(s) for each tract, whether the tract meets the 3% or 20% threshold, and precincts in that tract.
For all precincts in language minority districts, voting instructions and sample ballots will be translated into the most commonly spoken non-English language for all precincts in that census tract. These materials will be posted and available for voters as a reference when casting a ballot.
In addition to the above requirements, in census tracts where 20% or more of the population speak English “less than very well,” ten or more registered voters may file a request with the secretary of state or their county auditor to have an interpreter in the polling place provide translation services for voters. The Request for Interpretive Services at Polling Place form is available for making this request.
If interested citizens or organizations believe that the need exists for translated materials or interpretive services in a precinct that was not designated as a language minority district, they can provide information to the secretary of state or county auditor to demonstrate this need. Pending review and approval, the above requirements would apply to those precincts.