Arkansas' English-only ballot creates barrier for voters [View all]

The Arkansas ballot for the 2024 election is only being provided in English, which creates a barrier for Latino voters in the state.

The issue is exacerbated by state laws tracking who volunteers help and how, which can lead to prosecution and null votes. The criminal charges that the volunteers may face create a barrier for Latinos who have disabilities or do not speak English as a first language, according to the lawsuit being put forward by La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE). The activist group is also suing Texas and Missouri for similar laws that discourage and place pressure on volunteers.

Alejandra Campos, a UA professor of Latino studies, said the restrictions on volunteers make non-native English speakers more timid about going to the polls.

“Translators can really only translate what is on the ballot,” Campos said, “and if people ask follow-up questions they are not supposed to answer. A lot of our immigrant community is coming from Mexico and Central America, so a lot of first-time voters will have difficulties.”



https://www.uatrav.com/news/article_b18bc36c-7f90-11ef-a975-37c0afdf7e7e.html