Expanding the VOTE Act
Expanding the VOTE Act
Plain Language Summary
# Summary of HR 4917: Expanding the VOTE Act **What the Bill Does** This bill would expand access to voting materials for people who don't speak English fluently. It builds on existing language assistance requirements from the 1965 Voting Rights Act by requiring the Department of Justice to formally notify states and local jurisdictions when they must provide translated voting materials. The bill aims to ensure that Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino voters, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives can access ballots and voting information in their native languages. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill would impact certain states and local election offices that serve significant non-English speaking populations.
Key requirements include: the Department of Justice issuing clear notices about which jurisdictions must provide translations, and those jurisdictions providing written translations of all voting materials. This is designed to remove barriers to voting for citizens with limited English proficiency. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Representative Nikema Williams (D-Georgia) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Expanding the Voluntary Opportunities for Translations in Elections Act or the Expanding the VOTE ActThis bill expands access to voting materials for individuals with limited proficiency in the English language.Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide voting materials and other language assistance to persons who are American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Natives, or of Spanish heritage and whose ability to speak or understand English limits electoral participation. A state or political subdivision that is subject to Section 203 is prohibited from providing English-only voting materials in an election. Among other requirements, this bill (1) requires the Department of Justice to issue a notice of prohibition, including the trigger threshold at which the prohibition applies, to certain states and political subdivisions; and (2) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide written translations of all voting materials, with the consent of any applicable tribal government, to election workers.Additionally, the bill requires the Election Assistance Commission to make incentive grants for states and political subdivisions to provide translated voting materials.The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the impact of (1) reducing the threshold requirement under Section 203 of the VRA, and (2) expanding the definition of language minorities to include native speakers of additional languages.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.