GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL TO ALLOW LEGAL RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS TO WORK AT POLLS

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By Elena Butler

August 27, 2013 (Sacramento)--Governor Jerry Brown has signed into a law Assembly Bill 817, a bill that will allow appointment of up to five legal residents who are not citizens per jurisidiction  to work at polls on election day.

AB 817 sparked some controversy after it was introduced by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) in February. Bonta’s goal is to increase turnout of eligible voters for whom English has proven to be a barrier that keeps many from exercising their right to vote.

“There are currently almost three million eligible California voters who are not fully proficient in English,” Bonta said after the bill passed the Assembly earlier this month. “Without language assistance, these citizens face challenges in exercising their fundamental right to vote and casting an informed ballot.  AB 817 helps ensure that our state’s voters have the resources necessary to participate fully in our democratic process.”

AB 817, originally proposed by The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, also has co-sponsorship by the Asian Law Caucus and support of over three dozen organizations, including the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials.  These groups support Bonta’s desire for a higher number of multilingual poll workers in an effort to assist limited English-speaking voters.

Some Republican officials have voiced their disapproval loud and clear, expressing their belief that to the bill would have an impact on the integrity of the election process.  Assemblyman Tom Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks) said it would be a “grave mistake”  to allow people who aren’t lawfully allowed to vote to work the polls.  He went on to state, “The net effect is going to be to undermine the confidence that the citizens of California have in their election process.”  There is also the matter of how much help non-citizen poll workers would provide voters at each precinct, as Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) pointed out, “Poll workers cannot go into a voting booth with a voter, cannot read the ballot to the voter, cannot help them understand what they are voting on.”  

Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Watsonville) considered the comments offensive, stating that non-citizens could be sent off to war in Iraq or Afghanistan but once they return home, they are viewed as unfit to work the polls due to their legal status.

When it comes to San Diego precincts, it was impossible to get a current update as to the number of poll workers who serve at each election — in particular those who are bilingual — since Michael Vu at the Registrar of Voters did not return ECM’s call.  However, a press release issued by the Registrar in October 2010, just days before Election Day, indicated that poll workers were still needed in several neighborhoods. The Registrar emphasized the need for workers, “especially those who are bilingual in Spanish, Filipino, and Vietnamese.”  The notice listed neighborhoods such as Clairemont, Mira Mesa, Lakeside, and La Mesa as those with greater need for Vietnamese and Spanish-speaking poll workers. 

With the ever growing diversity in our state, it’s evident the need for more multilingual poll workers will continue to increase.  The question of whether this “right” is reserved exclusively for citizens or should be extended to legal residents is up for debate.

The new law will not allow undocumented immigrants to work at polls.

Sources:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/asm/ab_0801-0850/ab_817_cfa_20130515_172921_asm_floor.html

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/08/bill-allowing-non-citizens-to-be-poll-workers-heads-to-governor.html

http://asmdc.org/members/a18/news-room/press-releases/bonta-bill-ab-817-protecting-fundamental-right-to-vote-moves-to-governor

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-legislature-immigration-20130823,0,2760732.story

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/4619

http://www.inlandnewstoday.com/story.php?s=30197


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Comments

Nothing surprises me anymore.

I think I am still numb after they signed the bill that lets Jonny go in the girls bathroom as long as Jonny and his mommy think he should have been a girl. The insanity is far past the point of understanding.