DEMOCRACY WATCH : Ballot Measure

A pending federal bill that requires counties to provide voter materials and ballots in more foreign languages could stir resentment in some native-born Americans worried about immigration and in some naturalized citizens who have worked hard to learn English and to assimilate into the mainstream culture. Yet, we hope, most citizens will see this legislation--passed by the House last week and backed by President Bush--for what it is: a valuable way to encourage participation in the democratic process.

Federal law already requires bilingual ballots if more than 5% of the voting-age citizens in a county share a foreign language, their literacy rate is lower than the national average and the Census Bureau finds they have limited English proficiency. Ten California counties, including Los Angeles, are already required to provide Spanish-language materials. The new legislation lowers the threshold to 10,000 voting-age citizens. It would most heavily burden Los Angeles County, where ballots in four more Asian languages would be required.

Bilingual election material has already proven its value. Proponents note that Latino registration and voting in the Southwest doubled between 1976 and 1988 after counties provided ballots in Spanish.

However, voter turnout for all minority groups is still too low. This bill could help send an “important signal to people not proficient in English that the government encourages their participation in the political process,” Rep. Esteban E. Torres (D-Pico Rivera) has said. That signal is surely worth sending.