Engel "Dear Colleague" on Voting Rights Act

ENGEL "DEAR COLLEAGUE" ON VOTING RIGHTS ACT

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) circulated this Dear Colleague to Members of Congress on the Voting Rights Act:

Dear Colleague:

I write to express my strong support for maintaining the bilingual ballot provision in the VRA (Section 203). Enabling all citizens to fully participate in the electoral process is vital to a healthy and vibrant democracy.

It has been argued that citizens would still be able to bring an interpreter with them to vote. Yet, how would everyone who has limited English be able to afford their own interpreter?

It has been argued that people need to be English proficient to become U.S. citizens. But, what does that mean for older people who are not required to be English proficient?

It has been argued that English unifies us as a nation. Yet, it is really the beliefs -- in freedom and equal opportunity for all -- that binds us as one people.

I believe that it is the government's responsibility to ensure full access to the ballot box. If that means translating ballots and instructions into other languages, so be it. We should be proud that we take the act of voting so seriously that we translate ballots to ensure equal access. We should be proud that we go to such lengths to ensure all Americans can participate in our democracy.

I urge you to oppose the King amendment.

Sincerely,

Eliot Engel
Member of Congress

http://engel.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=828&ParentID=0&SectionID=7&SectionTree=7&lnk=b&ItemID=825