Voter registration forms now available nationally in 5 Asian languages
The Associated Press, March 11, 2010
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-voter-registration-languages,0,4085376.story
San Francisco (AP) — Voter registration forms are available nationally in five Asian languages for the first time.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission released the forms on its Web site Thursday in Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean and Tagalog. It previously offered them only in English and Spanish.
Immigrant advocates say it's an important move to ensure new citizens' participation in the electoral process.
Commission chairwoman Donetta Davidson says states can distribute the commission's forms, or use the translations to print their own. She says this initiative makes it easier and less expensive for states to engage these groups.
Nationwide, the Asian-American population has grown from 0.5 percent in 1960, to 5 percent now. The Census projects it will grow to 8 percent, or to 33.4 million, by 2050.
