July 01, 2006
"House Backs Right to Non-English Ballots"
The AP reports here that the House voted to "affirm the right of voters in areas with large populations of non-English-speaking citizens to cast ballots in their native language." The House reportedly rejected an amendment proposed by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) to a bill funding the Departments of Justice, Commerce, and State by a 254-167 margin. Democrats joined just under one-third of Republicans in opposing the amendment, which apparently would have prevented federal funding for language assistance. This suggests that there's support among a majority of the House -- though substantially less than a majority of the majority -- for renewal of the Voting Rights Act's language assistance provisions.Posted by tokajid at July 1, 2006 05:45 AM