Fairfax County is the only county in Virginia history with a federal mandate to provide language assistance to English-deficient Hispanic voters in a presidential election — a development delighting activists, straining election officials and worrying those who argue that voters should know English well enough to participate without help.
The Old Dominion’s most populous jurisdiction and a critical battleground in a must-have state in the presidential race, last year was required to give the assistance under a section of the Voting Rights Act. The law applies to about 250 jurisdictions across the country.
The October 2011 announcement didn’t leave much time to gird for state and local races a month later, but the county prepared furiously — and continues to do so, registrar Cameron Quinn says.
Wait just a minute here!
ReplyDeleteI thought that one of the requirements for United States citizenship was that the applicant must be able to read and write in English?
Did I miss something here??
This is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteJust ask them who they want as president, then push the Romney button for them.