Your right to vote in Spanish

Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act requires certain jurisdictions to provide all election information they offer in English in other languages too.

Where it applies for Spanish

Under the Census Bureau's most recent determinations, from December 2021, Spanish-language assistance is required:

• statewide in California, Florida and Texas, and
• in more than 200 counties and towns in 26 states.

A jurisdiction is covered when more than 10,000 people, or more than 5% of its voting-age citizens, belong to a single language group and have limited English proficiency.

What they must provide

If your county is covered, it must give you in Spanish everything it offers in English:

• registration materials,
• polling place notices,
• sample ballots and instructions,
• ballots, in person and by mail,
• and oral assistance, such as bilingual poll workers.

If your county isn't covered

Even if your county isn't on the list, you can bring a person you trust to help you vote, as long as it isn't your employer or a union representative. Many election offices also provide Spanish materials on their own.

If you don't get help

Ask to speak with the poll worker in charge and call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682). You can also report it to the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.