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Bill

SD 2491

An Act relative to the preparation of bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole in the city known as the town of Randolph

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bill Driscoll

Massachusetts bill requires Randolph to provide ballots in English and Haitian Creole, expanding voting access for Creole-speaking residents in local and state elections.

House concurred
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 2491

Legislative bill overview

SD 2491 requires the town of Randolph, Massachusetts to prepare and provide bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole for all elections. The bill mandates that election materials be made available in both languages to ensure voting access for Haitian Creole-speaking residents. This follows existing federal and state requirements for language assistance in jurisdictions with significant minority language populations.

Why is this important

Randolph has a substantial Haitian Creole-speaking population, and language barriers can prevent eligible voters from fully participating in elections. Providing ballots in voters' preferred languages removes a significant obstacle to voting and ensures informed participation in the democratic process. This addresses a real accessibility gap in a specific community while aligning with the Voting Rights Act's language assistance provisions.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and implementation burden: Towns may argue that providing bilingual ballots increases election administration expenses for hiring translators, printing materials, and training poll workers
  • Scope precedent: Opponents may contend that singling out one town and one language could invite requests from other municipalities and language groups, complicating statewide election procedures
  • Federal vs. state authority: Questions about whether this should be decided through federal Voting Rights Act enforcement rather than individual state bills, and whether Massachusetts law should preempt town-level decision-making

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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