New Yorkers will have access to City interpreters at approximately 100 poll sites in Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island, assisting voters who speak Russian, Haitian Creole, Italian, Arabic, Polish or Yiddish
Mayor Bill de Blasio, Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Council Member Mark Treyger and the City Council today announced additional efforts to make voting easier for limited English proficient voters. Building upon the 2017 poll site interpretation pilot, the Administration will provide interpretation services at approximately 100 poll sites throughout Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island this Election Day, November 6, 2018.
Currently, the Board of Elections provides interpretation services in certain poll sites in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Bangla, as required by the Voting Rights Act. The Administration will be filling a gap across communities by providing interpretation services in the additional six most commonly spoken languages among limited English proficient eligible voters at poll sites with the greatest concentrations of these individuals. These languages are Russian, Haitian Creole, Italian, Arabic, Polish and Yiddish.
Using Census data and to ensure nonpartisanship, the City took a scientific and statistical approach when identifying poll sites in election districts with the highest needs for these services. Led by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, this project complements efforts by the BOE to lower language barriers to voting.
“The language you speak and understand should not be a barrier to civic participation,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Voting should be an easy task, and we’re upholding that truth by identifying and filling gaps in communities where translation services are needed. Whether it’s Haitian Creole, Russian or Arabic, we’re making sure that you’ll be able to participate in our democracy no matter what language you speak.”
“We want all New Yorkers to be a part of our democracy, which is why the Council along with the de Blasio Administration is increasing access to language interpreters at polling sites. Close to 40 percent of New York residents are foreign-born, so we know there is a need for these kinds of services. I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to get out and vote this Election Day,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson.
“Our diversity is what makes New York City so unique and special,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives J. Phillip Thompson. “This investment in interpretation services will help ensure that the language you speak is not a factor in casting your ballot, and that our diversity is reflected in our elections and government.”
“No New Yorker should be prevented from exercising her constitutional right to vote because she cannot speak English,” said Bitta Mostofi, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. “By placing interpreters at select poll sites in languages beyond the minimum required by law, we are taking a momentous step towards full and true access to the polls for all voters, no matter how they say ‘I voted.’”
“Participating in elections is a fundamental right that we will continue protect, regardless of the language you speak,” said Chief Democracy Officer Ayirini Fonseca-Sabune. “I applaud Mayor de Blasio and the City Council for making interpretation services a priority and removing a critical barrier to voting so all New Yorkers can make their voice heard on November 6th.”
“Voting should be easy and accessible. We need to address our city’s low voter turnout and make our democracy more inclusive, particularly in communities where systemic barriers exist. I’m proud to have advocated for and secured funds for a pilot program to provide interpreters for Russian and Haitian Creole speakers at 20 poll sites in Brooklyn last year, and prouder still of working with Speaker Johnson and Mayor de Blasio to expand the program this year to include more languages, activating and empowering civic engagement amongst more New Yorkers,” said Council Member Mark Treyger.
This year, more New Yorkers from a diverse set of backgrounds will have additional tools to exercise their right to vote. The de Blasio Administration has invested $640,000 to provide interpretation services at approximately 100 poll sites identified as having the highest need for these services in Russian, Haitian Creole, Italian, Arabic, Polish and Yiddish. This investment includes the hiring of personnel through Langlo Inc., a City-certified M/WBE language services vendor. MOIA partnered with Common Cause New York to provide training and is also assisting with additional supervision.
As part of this nonpartisan effort to limit barriers to voting, MOIA and the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit partnered to analyze detailed census data. This data helped identify the top 15 languages spoken by limited English proficient New Yorkers: Russian, Haitian Creole, Italian, Polish, Arabic, Yiddish, Greek, Albanian, Tagalog, Urdu and French, in addition to the languages covered by the Voting Rights Act.
MOIA and CAU further analyzed this census data to identify the percentage of people within these populations who are 18 years or older and eligible to vote to determine where the highest need for interpretation services at poll sites exist. MOIA then selected approximately the top 100 poll sites among the top six languages, based on the availability of resources for this project.
These services will be available entirely at a voter’s voluntary discretion. Staff will be provided with a four-hour training that mirrors the BOE’s own training, including non-electioneering protocols, providing interpretation services, maintaining voter privacy, the voting process and New York City’s Election Day operations. Poll site project staff will operate at a minimum of 101 feet outside of a poll site, per BOE’s specifications, and will accompany voters into poll sites upon request. Staff will identify themselves by wearing pins with “interpreter” listed in English and the additional language they speak.
City interpreters will be available from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Election Day. In the lead up to Election Day, MOIA staff will educate communities about these services.
Last year’s pilot program has outlined the City’s work for Election Day 2018. In 2017, the poll site interpretation pilot provided interpretation services in Russian and Haitian Creole at 20 poll sites in Brooklyn.
“Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and giving people the opportunity to participate in the language they are most comfortable with makes for a more informed and inclusive electorate,” said Congressman Joe Crowley. "This project will help voters who need assistance in a language other than English and will help elections officials better serve our diverse communities. I applaud the Office of Immigrant Affairs for this initiative which will help expand voter access across the city.”
2018 Poll Site Interpretation Services
Staten Island: 1 site
| Poll Site Name | Poll Site Address | Language(s) |
|---|---|---|
| PS 39 Francis J. Murphy Jr. | 71 Sand Lane | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
Queens: 14 sites
| Poll Site Name | Poll Site Address | Language(s) |
|---|---|---|
| JHS 157-Stephen A Halsey | 63-55 102 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 175-Lynn Gross Discovery School | 64-35 102 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 206-Horace Harding School | 61-02 98 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 139-Rego Park | 93-06 63 Drive | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 220-Edward Mandel | 62-10 108 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 99-Kew Gardens | 82-37 Kew Gardens Road | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Evelyn & Lou Grn Res | 19-15 Seagirt Blvd | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 154-Queens | 75-02 162 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 165-Edith K. Bergtraum | 70-35 150 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 117-J.Keld / Briarwood School | 85-15 143 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| JHS 217-Robert A. Van Wyck | 85-05 144 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Forest Hills HS | 67-01 110 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 34-John Harvard | 104-12 Springfield Boulevard | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 207-Rockwood Park | 159-15 88 Street | ITALIANO - Italian |
Brooklyn: 86 Sites
| Poll Site Name | Poll Site Address | Language(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Shorefront YM-YWHA | 3300 Coney Island Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 23 | 1875 East 17 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 52 | 2675 East 29 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 128 | 2075 84 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 206 | 2200 Gravesend Neck Road | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Bay Academy-IS 98 | 1401 Emmons Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 226 | 6006 23 Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 209 | 2609 East 7 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Trump Village Bldg 7A | 2942 West 5 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Marlboro Memorial Post | 300 Avenue X | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| IS 96 | 99 Avenue P | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| St. Marks School | 2602 East 19th Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Seacoast Towers | 1311 Brightwater Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 682 | 50 Avenue P | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 90 | 2840 West 12 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 254 | 1801 Avenue Y | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 216 | 350 Avenue X | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 153 | 1970 Homecrest Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian العربية - Arabic |
| PS 197 | 1599 East 22 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 62 JHS | 700 Cortelyou Road | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 99 | 1120 East 10 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| William E. Grady CTE High School | 25 Brighton 4 Road | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 238 | 1633 East 8 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Ed R Murrow HS | 1600 Avenue L | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 177 | 346 Avenue P | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Agudath Sr Ctr | 817 Avenue H | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 346 | 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 188 | 3314 Neptune Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 286 | 2525 Haring Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Trump Village Bldg 3A | 444 Neptune Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| St. Brendan Senior Apartments L.P. | 1215 Avenue O | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 195 | 131 Irwin Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Kings Highway Public Library | 2115 Ocean Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| JASA Comm Ctr | 161 Corbin Place | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Vandalia Ctr | 47 Vandalia Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 217 | 1100 Newkirk Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| East Midwood Jewish Center | 1625 Ocean Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| James Madison HS | 3787 Bedford Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Merkaz Community Center | 1739 Ocean Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 329 | 2929 West 30 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Marien Heim Community Center | 870 Ocean Parkway | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Haber House | 3024 West 24 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 179 | 202 Avenue C | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| IS 14 | 2424 Batchelder Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Sephardic Comm Ctr | 1901 Ocean Parkway | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 186 | 7601 19 Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Kings Bay YM-YWHA | 3495 Nostrand Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 97 | 1855 Stillwell Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| O'Dwyer Community Center | 2945 West 33 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Brightwater's Comm Room | 501 Surf Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| IS 228 | 228 Avenue S | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Regina Pacis Housing | 2424 Cropsey Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Flatbush Park Jewish Center | 6363 Avenue U | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 95 | 345 Van Sicklen Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Youth Center | 2739 Harway Avenue | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| PS 194 | 3117 Avenue W | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Harway Terrace | 2475 West 16 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| New Utrecht HS | 1601 80 Street | РУССКИЙ - Russian |
| Roosevelt Hall | 2946 Bedford Avenue | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 269 | 1957 Nostrand Avenue | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 152/PS 315 | 725 East 23 Street | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 68 JHS | 956 East 82 Street | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| Canarsie HS | 1600 Rockaway Parkway | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 276 | 1070 East 83 Street | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 249 | 18 Marlborough Road | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| F.Bennett American Leg. Post | 5601 Avenue N | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 251 | 1037 East 54 Street | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 115 | 1500 East 92 Street | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| The Joan Snow Pre-K Center | 3610 Glenwood Road | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| Flatbush YMCA | 1401 Flatbush Avenue | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 203 | 5101 Avenue M | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| IS 395/PS 109 | 1001 East 45 Street | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| PS 114 | 1077 Remsen Avenue | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| IS 246 | 72 Veronica Place | KREYÒL AYISYEN - Haitian Creole |
| IS 71 -Juan Morel Campos | 215 Heyward Street | אידיש - Yiddish |
| Independence Towers Senior Center | 114 Taylor Street | אידיש - Yiddish |
| PS/IS 180 | 5601 16 Avenue | אידיש - Yiddish |
| Boro Park YM-YWHA | 4912 14 Avenue | אידיש - Yiddish |
| PS 223 IS | 4200 16th Avenue | אידיש - Yiddish |
| PS 131 | 4305 Ft Hamilton Parkway | אידיש - Yiddish |
| PS 192 | 4715 18 Avenue | אידיש - Yiddish |
| McGuiness Sr Ctr | 715 Leonard Street | POLSKI - Polish |
| POLSKI - Polish Slavic Culture Center | 177 Kent Street | POLSKI - Polish |
| JHS 126 | 424 Leonard Street | POLSKI - Polish |
| St. Cecilia | 24 North Henry Street | POLSKI - Polish |
| PS 227 JHS | 6500 16 Avenue | ITALIANO - Italian |
