Elections
Federal Bilingual Requirements
Section 203 -- Voting Rights Act
Effective early 2022, all election-related material, including public notices, signs, website content, and mailings, will be available in Spanish upon request. All touchscreen voting machines used for in-person voting have offered and will continue to offer both English and Spanish ballots. Bilingual mail-in ballots have been and will continue to be available. And, in designated areas, bi-lingual poll workers will be assigned. Bilingual staff members are available in the County Clerk’s Office to assist voters.
Why is Salt Lake County covered by the Federal Voting Rights Act?
Based on the results of the 2020 Census, Salt Lake County is subject to bilingual election requirements with respect to Spanish. Though new citizens are required to "have the ability to read, write, speak and understand simple words and phrases in English", they still may not be sufficiently fluent to participate fully in the voting process without assistance.
A significant number of voting age citizens in Salt Lake County display limited English proficiency, with more than 5% of voting age citizens in Salt Lake County having limited English proficiency and illiteracy greater than the national average.
Language assistance encourages these and other citizens of different language and minority groups to register and vote and participate more fully in the election process.
Information on the Voting Rights Act
Section 203 of the Federal Voting Rights Act was first implemented by Congress in 1975, renewed by Congress again in 1982, 1992 and in 2006.
The US Department of Justice website provides extensive information on Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act