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LA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES ARMENIAN BALLOT LANGUAGE
Asbarez
Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian
LOS ANGELES-The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion from
Councilmember Paul Krekorian to add the Armenian language to
the city's election materials. Los Angeles is home to the most
Armenian-Americans in the country and about 30,000 are registered to
vote in the city. Armenian is the third most commonly spoken language
in Los Angeles but not one of the six languages now included on
election materials.
"Throughout our history, America has been defined by its commitment to
the right to vote, and it has been forged by the ongoing struggle to
expand participation in democracy," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said.
"In Los Angeles, the most diverse city in the country, our citizens
speak nearly 100 languages. For many naturalized citizens who
speak English as a second language, the language barrier can be an
intimidating and daunting barrier to full and informed participation
in the voting process that is their right.
"Federal law already requires that the city provide ballot materials
in eight languages, but Armenian is not among them. Yet Armenian
is the third most widely spoken foreign language among Angelenos
of voting age. Today's action will require voter outreach and poll
worker recruitment in Armenian (as well as Farsi and Russian). The
Council has also mandated that city staff will work collaboratively
with representatives of the County, as well as the cities of Glendale
and Burbank and other local entities with similar language concerns,
to develop a strategic approach to making Armenian language ballot
materials available in future elections. These steps will make a real
difference to thousands of citizens in Los Angeles who will now be
able to more meaningfully participate in City elections.
"Our great American tradition of political inclusion requires that
all citizens, regardless of their place of origin, can comfortably
exercise the right to vote that is one of the very reasons many came
to this country. By the Council's action today, the City will continue
to be true to that tradition."
Language options currently on L.A.'s election materials and ballots
include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese,
all required by the federal Voting Rights Act.
With the motion, the City Clerk will now plan for the implementation
of full election language services in the Armenian language for the
2015 Municipal Elections.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian represents Los Angeles' Second Council
District, which includes the east San Fernando Valley. His website
is cd2.lacity.org, where you can sign up for news updates or visit
him on Twitter (@PaulKrekorian) or Facebook.
Asbarez
Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian
LOS ANGELES-The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion from
Councilmember Paul Krekorian to add the Armenian language to
the city's election materials. Los Angeles is home to the most
Armenian-Americans in the country and about 30,000 are registered to
vote in the city. Armenian is the third most commonly spoken language
in Los Angeles but not one of the six languages now included on
election materials.
"Throughout our history, America has been defined by its commitment to
the right to vote, and it has been forged by the ongoing struggle to
expand participation in democracy," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said.
"In Los Angeles, the most diverse city in the country, our citizens
speak nearly 100 languages. For many naturalized citizens who
speak English as a second language, the language barrier can be an
intimidating and daunting barrier to full and informed participation
in the voting process that is their right.
"Federal law already requires that the city provide ballot materials
in eight languages, but Armenian is not among them. Yet Armenian
is the third most widely spoken foreign language among Angelenos
of voting age. Today's action will require voter outreach and poll
worker recruitment in Armenian (as well as Farsi and Russian). The
Council has also mandated that city staff will work collaboratively
with representatives of the County, as well as the cities of Glendale
and Burbank and other local entities with similar language concerns,
to develop a strategic approach to making Armenian language ballot
materials available in future elections. These steps will make a real
difference to thousands of citizens in Los Angeles who will now be
able to more meaningfully participate in City elections.
"Our great American tradition of political inclusion requires that
all citizens, regardless of their place of origin, can comfortably
exercise the right to vote that is one of the very reasons many came
to this country. By the Council's action today, the City will continue
to be true to that tradition."
Language options currently on L.A.'s election materials and ballots
include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese,
all required by the federal Voting Rights Act.
With the motion, the City Clerk will now plan for the implementation
of full election language services in the Armenian language for the
2015 Municipal Elections.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian represents Los Angeles' Second Council
District, which includes the east San Fernando Valley. His website
is cd2.lacity.org, where you can sign up for news updates or visit
him on Twitter (@PaulKrekorian) or Facebook.