Posted on 11/28/2008 9:09:37 AM PST by BGHater
A Deltona woman has sued the Volusia County supervisor of elections, contending that, as a Puerto Rican, she should have been able to cast her vote in Spanish.
But county lawyers say her case is unfounded and point out that Spanish speakers are already offered assistance at Volusia County polling sites.
Crimilda Perez-Santiago, with the help of New York-based LatinoJustice PRLDEF, filed suit on Election Day because she said she had trouble understanding the ballot, particularly the state constitutional amendments.
Last week, the county filed a motion to dismiss the case, pointing out that Volusia does not meet a federal threshold of English-limited citizens that requires the county to print ballots in a foreign language. The motion also stressed other efforts the county makes, such as hiring bilingual poll workers and offering nearly all elections materials in Spanish.
"We've done everything we can up to having a bilingual ballot," said Volusia Elections Supervisor Ann McFall, adding that it costs more to print. "If we get our chance to show it in court, it will be apparent."
If 5 percent of a county's residents have limited English abilities, the county is required by federal law to print bilingual ballots. Orange and Osceola counties meet the threshold. As of the last census in 2000, Volusia did not, but McFall said she expects the county will in 2010.
Perez-Santiago would not comment through LatinoJustice.
Her attorney, Diana Sen, who works for LatinoJustice, said the county's efforts haven't been successful in reaching Spanish-speaking voters.
"If they had anything available, people didn't know about it," she said, adding that the ballot was the most critical element. "Let's face it. If you don't have the ballot in Spanish, what does it matter if the other materials are in Spanish?"
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Oh, please....these freaks got what they wanted - they elected ‘the one.’
As an American, she should be able and proud to vote in English.
This is why majority doesn’t rule. If they did, we might be forced to speak spanish in some areas.
Well Holy Crimilda, woman. Get over it.
All this BS would disappear if we had people in Washington with enough stones to make English the official language. In my mind, if you can't read and write English, you probably aren't well informed and I'd rather not have you voting anyway.
some of the issues being voted on around the country where hard to understand in english too..because they were printed in legalese. I’d like to see clearer english.
Hell, even I have trouble understanding the state amendments on ballots.
In English: Obama.
In Spanish: Obama.
This should never happen. A citizen should never have to deal with having to vote and not understand the ballot. Therefore, passing a basic test in reading, writing and comprehending English should be a requirement before any person is made a citizen of this country.
The hubris of some of these people is sickening. You do not have a right to become a citizen of the USA. It is a privilege, but I suppose I can understand American citizenship being taken for granted because it is given, far too easily, far too often, to far too many.
In English: Obama.
In Spanish: Obama.
And:
In English: McCain.
In Spanish: Obama.
She could just write in Castro or Chavez...Her kine candidate no doubt.
Notice that no one sues over ballots in German, Polish, Italian, French, Swedish or Dutch.
That’s because those people have NOT been made official victim groups by the government. They are just normal people with a high degree of self-sufficience, self-respect, and self-esteem.
Yes, I do mean to imply that whiney victim groups have no
self-sufficience, self-respect, or self-esteem.
WHAT? She can’t recognize a NAME? I guess she wanted John McCain’s name as JUAN. What a dope.
Democrat power requires a stirred up, unhappy, outraged populace of imaginary victims. Divide and conquer works every time. I doubt our republic can long survive this enemy within.
The USA has ONE official language. This 'person' should learn how to speak it, or go back where it came from.
I fear you are right...
It would make me feel good to see Skolt recognized in this country ~ after all, they were here first!
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