New York City ballots in the upcoming US presidential election will include Bangla, one of three Asian languages available alongside English, reports Dhaka Tribune.
This addition, aimed at easing voting access for Bengali-speaking residents, is part of the city's legal obligation to support language access for diverse communities, especially at polling sites in areas with significant South Asian populations, such as Queens.
Michael J Ryan, executive director of the New York City Board of Elections, said: “We are required to service four other languages besides English, including Chinese, Spanish, Korean, and Bengali.”
The inclusion of Bangla on the ballot stems from a 2013 legal settlement following a lawsuit that called for improved language support, aligning with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which mandates language assistance to safeguard minority voting rights.
This settlement directed New York City to incorporate an Asian Indian language, with Bengali chosen to meet the language needs of a large portion of South Asian voters.
Dr Avinash Gupta, president of the Federation of Indian Associations, said: “This is how we can get our voices heard. We are a sizable population. Accessible voting options may inspire greater involvement from the South Asian community in civic affairs.”
The new language access feature will help Bengali-speaking residents from Bangladesh, India, and other parts of South Asia engage confidently in the electoral process.
Subhshesh, a Times Square sales agent with Bengali heritage, said that while he is comfortable in English, the addition of Bangla will greatly benefit those in his community, like his father, who prefer reading in their native language.
The initiative aligns with New York City’s status as one of the most linguistically diverse cities globally, with over 200 languages spoken.
As New York City Department of City Planning officials point out, this step reflects the city’s broader efforts to foster an inclusive voting process for all communities, especially those historically facing language barriers at the polls.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
