Bengali Language Ballots in NYC: Empowering Voter Participation Among South Asians

  1. Multilingual New York: With over 200 languages spoken in NYC, it epitomizes America’s diversity. However, U.S. presidential election ballots will only be available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Korean, and Bengali.
  2. Bengali Language Inclusion: Bengali is the sole Indian language on the ballot, mandated by law to support the growing Bengali-speaking community in NYC, specifically in areas with high South Asian population density.
  3. Impact of Legal Mandate: The addition of Bengali to voting materials stems from a lawsuit addressing language accessibility, which required an Asian Indian language on NYC ballots. Through negotiations, Bengali was chosen.
  4. Supporting Voter Engagement: Bengali ballots are expected to improve voter turnout and comfort, especially for older Bengali-speaking immigrants who may struggle with English, making the voting process more inclusive.
  5. Historical Background: Bengali ballots were first introduced in 2013, following the federal government’s directive under the 1965 Voting Rights Act to enhance language assistance for South Asian minorities in NYC.
  6. Community Benefits: According to Dr. Avinash Gupta of the Federation of Indian Associations, this language support not only encourages voting within the Bengali community but also strengthens Indian-American voices in elections.
  7. Symbol of Representation: The availability of Bengali on ballots reflects the significance of South Asian communities in NYC, promoting greater political participation and representation among Bengali-speaking residents.