A heavy turnout of Asian American voters in today's Presidential election, especially among new citizen and first-time voters, was marred by complaints about racist poll workers, improper demands for identification, and a shortage of Asian-language interpreters at polling sites throughout New York and New Jersey.
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which dispatched over 600 volunteer attorneys, students and community workers to over 175 poll sites in 8 states, reported that Asian American voters throughout the country faced obstacles in exercising their right to vote, including:
Racist Remarks to Asian American Voters
* At PS 69 in Jackson Heights, Queens, poll workers blamed voters for holding up the lines: "You Oriental guys are taking too long to vote." Several Asian American voters told AALDEF monitors that they felt rushed when they were voting. Although the Voting Rights Act requires bilingual materials to be displayed at polling places, poll workers said that there were too many bilingual materials on the tables: "If they (Asian American voters) need it, they can ask for it." This was a violation of section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which mandates that Chinese-language materials and assistance be provided to Asian American voters with limited English proficiency. One Chinese American voter who asked for language assistance was directed to a Korean interpreter, who could not help.
* At Grace Church in Jersey City, NJ, a police officer pulled an Asian American voter out of the voting booth, admonishing her that she should wait on line until called.
full story
Full Version: Voter Problems Widespread on Nov. 2nd
Common Ground Common Sense > Issues that Affect Our Lives > Civil Rights and Civil Liberties > Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Archive
QUOTE(Yellowworld.org @ Nov 8 2004, 04:29 PM)
A heavy turnout of Asian American voters in today's Presidential election, especially among new citizen and first-time voters, was marred by complaints about racist poll workers, improper demands for identification, and a shortage of Asian-language interpreters at polling sites throughout New York and New Jersey.
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which dispatched over 600 volunteer attorneys, students and community workers to over 175 poll sites in 8 states, reported that Asian American voters throughout the country faced obstacles in exercising their right to vote, including:
Racist Remarks to Asian American Voters
* At PS 69 in Jackson Heights, Queens, poll workers blamed voters for holding up the lines: "You Oriental guys are taking too long to vote." Several Asian American voters told AALDEF monitors that they felt rushed when they were voting. Although the Voting Rights Act requires bilingual materials to be displayed at polling places, poll workers said that there were too many bilingual materials on the tables: "If they (Asian American voters) need it, they can ask for it." This was a violation of section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which mandates that Chinese-language materials and assistance be provided to Asian American voters with limited English proficiency. One Chinese American voter who asked for language assistance was directed to a Korean interpreter, who could not help.
* At Grace Church in Jersey City, NJ, a police officer pulled an Asian American voter out of the voting booth, admonishing her that she should wait on line until called.
full story
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which dispatched over 600 volunteer attorneys, students and community workers to over 175 poll sites in 8 states, reported that Asian American voters throughout the country faced obstacles in exercising their right to vote, including:
Racist Remarks to Asian American Voters
* At PS 69 in Jackson Heights, Queens, poll workers blamed voters for holding up the lines: "You Oriental guys are taking too long to vote." Several Asian American voters told AALDEF monitors that they felt rushed when they were voting. Although the Voting Rights Act requires bilingual materials to be displayed at polling places, poll workers said that there were too many bilingual materials on the tables: "If they (Asian American voters) need it, they can ask for it." This was a violation of section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which mandates that Chinese-language materials and assistance be provided to Asian American voters with limited English proficiency. One Chinese American voter who asked for language assistance was directed to a Korean interpreter, who could not help.
* At Grace Church in Jersey City, NJ, a police officer pulled an Asian American voter out of the voting booth, admonishing her that she should wait on line until called.
full story
Oops, my bad, I just read an admin's request to have these types of posts put in the Voter Fraud sub-forum...so, moderators, please move at your discretion...thanks!
Democrats need to be more comprehensive about mobilizing and accomodating all of our voters.
With the record sums of money raised--which still allowed Bush to be elected--some slightly greater sum can be allocated to actually getting out the vote.
With the record sums of money raised--which still allowed Bush to be elected--some slightly greater sum can be allocated to actually getting out the vote.
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