[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 28, Volume 2]

[Revised as of July 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 28CFR55.18]



[Page 123-124]

 

                    TITLE 28--JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION

 

              CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (CONTINUED)

 

PART 55_IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT 

REGARDING LANGUAGE MINORITY GROUPS--Table of Contents

 

          Subpart D_Minority Language Materials and Assistance

 

Sec. 55.18  Provision of minority language materials and assistance.



    (a) Materials provided by mail. If materials provided by mail (or by 

some comparable form of distribution) generally to residents or 

registered voters are not all provided in the applicable minority 

language, the Attorney General will consider whether an effective 

targeting system has been developed. For example, a separate mailing of 

materials in the minority language to persons who are likely to need 

them or to residents of neighborhoods in which such a need is likely to 

exist, supplemented by a notice of the availability of minority language 

materials in the general mailing (in English and in the applicable 

minority language) and by other publicity regarding the availability of 

such materials may be sufficient.

    (b) Public notices. The Attorney General will consider whether 

public notices and announcements of electoral activities are handled in 

a manner that provides members of the applicable language minority group 

an effective opportunity to be informed about electoral activities.

    (c) Registration. The Attorney General will consider whether the 

registration system is conducted in such a way that members of the 

applicable language minority group have an effective



[[Page 124]]



opportunity to register. One method of accomplishing this is to provide, 

in the applicable minority language, all notices, forms and other 

materials provided to potential registrants and to have only bilingual 

persons as registrars. Effective results may also be obtained, for 

example, through the use of deputy registrars who are members of the 

applicable language minority group and the use of decentralized places 

of registration, with minority language materials available at places 

where persons who need them are most likely to come to register.

    (d) Polling place activities. The Attorney General will consider 

whether polling place activities are conducted in such a way that 

members of the applicable language minority group have an effective 

opportunity to vote. One method of accomplishing this is to provide all 

notices, instructions, ballots, and other pertinent materials and oral 

assistance in the applicable minority language. If very few of the 

registered voters scheduled to vote at a particular polling place need 

minority language materials or assistance, the Attorney General will 

consider whether an alternative system enabling those few to cast 

effective ballots is available.

    (e) Publicity. The Attorney General will consider whether a covered 

jurisdiction has taken appropriate steps to publicize the availability 

of materials and assistance in the minority language. Such steps may 

include the display of appropriate notices, in the minority language, at 

voter registration offices, polling places, etc., the making of 

announcements over minority language radio or television stations, the 

publication of notices in minority language newspapers, and direct 

contact with language minority group organizations.



[Order No. 655-76, 41 FR 29998, July 20, 1976, as amended by Order No. 

733-77, 42 FR 35970, July 13, 1977]