Washington -- Today Third District Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) cosponsored H. R. 5971, the American Elections Act, introduced by Congressman Dean Heller (R-NV). This legislation would amend the Help America Vote Act and the Voting Rights Act to require that ballots for federal elections be printed only in English, except in jurisdictions where translations of Native American or Alaska Native dialects are needed.
"It is important for people living in the United States to speak and understand English. A common language is what makes a nation one," Congressman Jones said. "Multi-lingual ballots not only divide American voters by language and cause needless confusion at the polls, they impose an unnecessary financial burden on state and local governments."
"Over the last several decades, federal mandates have required more and more jurisdictions to provide ballots in languages other than English. Yet, a 2006 poll by Zogby International indicated that more than 60 percent of Americans want all U.S. election ballots to be printed in English only," Jones said. "Congress should listen to the American people and bring linguistic unity to our election system by passing this legislation."
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
by Walter Jones for Congress Committee