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There Will Be Russian and Haitian-Creole Poll Translators at 20 Polling Sites

Liena Zagare

Liena Zagare

— 2 min read
There Will Be Russian and Haitian-Creole Poll Translators at 20 Polling Sites

SOUTHERN BROOKLYN – There will be Russian-speaking translators at 15 polling sites and Haitian-Creole-speaking translators at 5 polling sites in Southern Brooklyn tomorrow. Championed by Council Member Mark Treyger, the interpreters are provided through a $350,000 interpreter pilot program, funded by the City in time for this year’s general election on November 7.

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“Low voter turnout is proof that we need more language access at poll sites, and this pilot program is hopefully just the beginning of more inclusive voting policies,” said Council Member Mark Treyger.

Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte has introduced legislation to require Haitian-Creole translators at poll sites. Assembly Member Bill Colton has been a strong advocate for Russian-speaking translators at polling sites in his District.

Interpreters. (By Rodneyse Bichotte)

“Year after year I have gone to polling sites throughout my district and I have seen Chinese and Spanish translators, and while this is beneficial for some members of my community, there are an overwhelming number of Haitian residents that are being disenfranchised because they don’t have a full understanding of what is going on,” Assembly member Bichotte said.

There will be tables “near the entrances of the 20 polling sites, and interpreters will wear jackets bearing the New York City seal, and buttons that say “Interpreter” in English, Russian, and Haitian-Creole. Any voter in need of assistance may ask the interpreters to accompany them into the poll site, to assist them with the voting process”, we are assured by Bichotte’s office. The New York City Board of Elections has declined to allow the interpreters to be stationed inside polling places.

Most of the polling stations with Haitian Creole speakers are concentrated in Canarsie, though “Little Haiti” is in Flatbush, which was not included in the initial pilot, and Assembly Member Bichotte plans to fight for more polling sites to have language accessibility. Here are the five that will have Haitian Creole translators:

  • PS 68, 845 E 96 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11236
  • PS 276, 1070 E 83rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11236
  • PS 251, 1037 E 54th St, Brooklyn, NY 11234
  • PS 115, 1500 E 92nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11236
  • Canarsie High School, 1600 Rockaway Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11236

We are awaiting the list of polling sites that will have Russian translators.

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