[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: 28CFR55.19]



[Page 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. 55.19  Written materials.



    (a) Types of materials. It is the obligation of the jurisdiction to 

decide what materials must be provided in a minority language. A 

jurisdiction required to provide minority language materials is only 

required to publish in the language of the applicable language minority 

group materials distributed to or provided for the use of the electorate 

generally. Such materials include, for example, ballots, sample ballots, 

informational materials, and petitions.

    (b) Accuracy, completeness. It is essential that material provided 

in the language of a language minority group be clear, complete and 

accurate. In examining whether a jurisdiction has achieved compliance 

with this requirement, the Attorney General will consider whether the 

jurisdiction has consulted with members of the applicable language 

minority group with respect to the translation of materials.

    (c) Ballots. The Attorney General will consider whether a 

jurisdiction provides the English and minority language versions on the 

same document. Lack of such bilingual preparation of ballots may give 

rise to the possibility, or to the appearance, that the secrecy of the 

ballot will be lost if a separate minority language ballot or voting 

machine is used.

    (d) Voting machines. Where voting machines that cannot mechanically 

accommodate a ballot in English and in the applicable minority language 

are used, the Attorney General will consider whether the jurisdiction 

provides sample ballots for use in the polling booths. Where such sample 

ballots are used the Attorney General will consider whether they contain 

a complete and accurate translation of the English ballots, and whether 

they contain or are accompanied by instructions in the minority language 

explaining the operation of the voting machine. The Attorney General 

will also consider whether the sample ballots are displayed so that they 

are clearly visible and at the same level as the machine ballot on the 

inside of the polling booth, whether the sample ballots are identical in 

layout to the machine ballots, and whether their size and typeface are 

the same as that appearing on the machine ballots. Where space 

limitations preclude affixing the translated sample ballots to the 

inside of polling booths, the Attorney General will consider whether 

language minority group voters are allowed to take the sample ballots 

into the voting booths.



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