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Bill

S 2215

Directs the Queens county board of elections to provide language assistance in Bengali, Punjabi and Hindi

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie and 3 co-sponsors

S 2215 - Language Assistance for Queens County Elections OverviewBill Number: S 2215 Title: Directs the Queens county board of elections to provide language assistance in Bengali,

REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
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Bill Summary · S 2215

S 2215 - Language Assistance for Queens County Elections

Overview

Bill Number: S 2215
Title: Directs the Queens county board of elections to provide language assistance in Bengali, Punjabi and Hindi
Status: REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
Introduced: July 09, 2025

Purpose and Intent

This bill aims to improve access and participation in the electoral process for limited English proficient (LEP) residents of Queens County, New York. The legislation seeks to address language barriers that can prevent LEP individuals, particularly those who speak Bengali, Punjabi, and Hindi, from fully engaging in the democratic process. By mandating the provision of language assistance, the bill intends to empower these communities and ensure their voices are heard.

Key Provisions

  • Requires the Queens County Board of Elections to provide all election-related materials and assistance in Bengali, Punjabi, and Hindi, in addition to English
  • Mandates the availability of interpreters at polling sites to aid LEP voters in these languages
  • Directs the Board to conduct outreach and education campaigns to inform LEP residents of the language services available
  • Establishes guidelines and standards for the quality and timeliness of the required language assistance

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • LEP residents of Queens County who speak Bengali, Punjabi, or Hindi will benefit from improved access to the electoral process and ability to participate
  • The Queens County Board of Elections will be responsible for implementing the new language assistance requirements, which may necessitate additional resources and staff training
  • Political candidates and campaigns in Queens may need to adapt their outreach and engagement strategies to effectively communicate with these LEP voter communities

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

The bill has been referred to the New York State Senate Elections Committee for consideration. If reported out of committee and passed by the full Senate, it would then move to the State Assembly for further review and voting. Enactment would require the Governor's signature. If signed into law, the Board of Elections would have 6 months to comply with the new language assistance mandates prior to the next scheduled general election.

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

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