Expanding the VOTE Act Pushes for Better Language Access in Elections, Offers $15M in Grants

The “Expanding the Voluntary Opportunities for Translations in Elections Act,” or the Expanding the VOTE Act, is all about making sure language barriers don’t keep eligible voters away from the ballot box. It clarifies existing rules, adds new incentives for local governments, and mandates a study on lowering the thresholds that trigger mandatory language assistance.

The Fine Print: What Counts as Voting Materials Now

Section 2 clarifies and expands the definition of “voting materials” under the Voting Rights Act. If you’re a voter who relies on materials in a language other than English, this is good news. The definition now explicitly includes registration forms, instructions, assistance, and ballots—covering both physical printouts and anything provided digitally. Essentially, if you can access it online or on an electronic device related to voting, it’s covered. Furthermore, the Attorney General must now proactively notify state or local jurisdictions that are just under the population threshold required to provide language assistance (specifically, fewer than 1,000 people or 0.5 percent away). This is like giving a heads-up to a county treasurer: “You’re almost required to provide Spanish ballots next cycle, so plan ahead.”

Flexibility for Tribal Governments

Section 3 addresses American Indian and Alaska Native languages, recognizing that not all languages have a written form or that some communities may prefer oral translation. If a Tribal government notifies the Attorney General that their language is unwritten or that they simply don’t want written translations, the state or local government only has to provide oral instructions and assistance to voters. This respects the sovereignty and linguistic realities of these communities. However, even in these cases, the local government must still provide written translations of all voting materials to election workers—if the Tribal government agrees—to ensure that the oral translations being given to voters are accurate and consistent across polling places. This is a practical step to prevent election workers from having to translate on the fly.

The $15 Million Incentive Program

Perhaps the most interesting new component is the grant program established in Section 4, run by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Congress has authorized $15 million to fund this program, which incentivizes states and local governments to provide voting materials in languages that aren’t currently required by federal law. Think of a county with a growing population of Mandarin speakers that hasn't quite hit the mandatory threshold yet. The county can apply for a grant to cover the costs of providing Mandarin materials for one election cycle.

Here’s the catch, and the main point of concern for administrators: If a jurisdiction accepts this money, they must commit to continuing to provide those materials in that language for every election cycle afterward. They can only stop if the covered language population drops by 0.5 percent or more. This means taking the grant money creates a long-term, possibly indefinite, financial commitment for the local government. It’s a great way to lock in expanded access, but it means local officials need to be absolutely sure they can budget for this service permanently before they apply for the one-time startup funds.

Looking Ahead: Lowering the Bar for Access

Finally, Section 5 directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study on what would happen if the mandatory language assistance thresholds were lowered. Currently, jurisdictions must meet certain population counts or percentages to trigger the requirement. The study will examine lowering the population threshold down to 5,000 people and lowering the percentage threshold down to 2 percent. It will also look at officially expanding the definition of “language minorities” to include native speakers of Arabic, French, and Haitian Creole, plus any other languages deemed appropriate. This study, due to Congress within a year, sets the stage for potentially massive changes to mandatory language access requirements in future legislation, ensuring the rules keep pace with shifting demographics.