Maryland State Wire

The Maryland Voting Rights Act Coalition announced the passage of a bill designed to expand access for voters with limited English proficiency. Senate Bill 685 and House Bill 983, both part of the Maryland Voting Rights Act package, await the governor's signature to become law.

Joanne Antoine, Executive Director of Common Cause Maryland, emphasized the significance: “Growing up in a mixed household where Haitian Creole was spoken at home, I saw firsthand how not speaking a certain language can limit your participation in society. Changes to the election process and complicated ballot questions can be hard to understand even for English speakers, so it’s imperative accurate translations are available to all voters. SB 685/HB 983 will ensure every Maryland voter, no matter which language they speak, can engage in our democratic process.”

Delegate Bernice Mireku-North, a bill sponsor, stated, “As we enter an era of increasing uncertainty on the continuation of federal voting rights protections, Maryland needs its own standards to protect access to voting. Continuing to rely solely on the federal framework ignores Maryland’s growing language minority communities, who will benefit from the increased language-related assistance and materials provided in the bill. This includes Maryland’s sizable French, Amharic, and Arabic-speaking communities. This bill will also benefit Maryland’s growing Hispanic communities by expanding Spanish language assistance. As Maryland communities continue to diversify, House Bill 983 is a necessary continuation of the effort to ensure all voters, regardless of language proficiency, have access to the ballot.”

Senate sponsor Malcolm Augustine echoed, “SB 685 responds directly to the needs of the growing population of Marylanders with limited English proficiency. All Marylanders, regardless of English proficiency, must have access to the ballot. Translating election materials under S.B. 685 is crucial to full political participation of all Marylanders.”

Maryland's diverse demographic includes one in five residents who speak a language other than English at home. The bill mandates translations for language communities where there are at least 4,000 voting-age citizens or where such communities constitute at least 2% of county voting-age citizens. It also requires election materials translations, signage approval by the State Board of Election, and secure technology for nonpartisan oral and visual translations at polling places.

"Maryland joins a growing number of states that are leading the way to a more inclusive, accountable government by ensuring all Marylanders are able to make their voices heard without discriminatory language barriers," said Lata Nott, director of voting rights policy at Campaign Legal Center. “This final piece of legislation safeguards the right of Maryland voters who do not primarily speak English to participate in the democratic process. We applaud the passage of this commonsense legislation and are encouraged to see states continue to make strides toward a more inclusive future.”

The Maryland Voting Rights Act Coalition comprises civil rights, voting rights, and grassroots organizations striving to protect voting rights within the state.