Support Legislation for Ballots in ENGLISH Only!! (H.R.5971)

Did you know that local jurisdictions in 31 states are being forced to print ballots in languages other than English, even though English is required for naturalization?

U.S. Congressman Dean Heller (R-NV) wants to stop this. But he needs your help to succeed.  

He has introduced The American Elections Act, H.R. 5971, to specify that ballots for federal elections can be printed ONLY IN ENGLISH, except in jurisdictions where translations of Native American or Alaska Native dialects are provided under current law.

H.R. 5971 is vital to restoring linguistic unity in our federal election system, and stopping the division of our country by language.  Nearly 50 years ago, Congress first allowed Spanish language ballots to be provided for naturalized, American-educated Puerto Rican citizens. Since then, the federal mandate to print ballots in other languages has grown to include 292 counties and numerous foreign languages. Unless something is done, those numbers will grow. 

According to an August 2007 poll, 74 percent of voters agree that “All election ballots and other government documents should be printed in English.” This should not be happening. To vote you must be a citizen. And if you aren’t born in the United States , you have to pass an English test to become a citizen. So why does the federal government force counties, states, and cities to print ballots in other languages?

TAKE ACTION

Urge your congressman to co-sponsor The American Elections Act, H.R. 5971. (Please click Take Action! in the upper right-hand corner and select "Government Affairs" from the Issue Area)