The city is making election day voting easier for New Yorkers who are not native English speakers. In an expansion of its interpretation services at polling sites, the Board of Elections is maximizing its language interpretation services on Nov. 6., and will offer more, including Haitian Creole.
In a press conference earlier this week, Mayor DeBlasio stated that language barriers or proficiency should not prevent eligible voters from exercising their voting rights.
The agency already offers interpretation for four languages including Spanish, and with the addition of Haitian Creole — Italian, Arabic, Polish, and Yiddish will be added.
These services will be available at 100 polling sites in Staten Island, Queens, and Brooklyn. Haitian Creole interpretation will only be offered at P.S. 34 in Queens, and at 16 sites in Brooklyn, mostly in East Flatbush, Flatbush, Canarsie, and Mill Basin. The sites include I.S. 246, P.S. 114, P.S. 251, P.S. 109, P.S. 269, P.S. 203, P.S. 315, P.S. 68, P.S. 115, P.S. 249, P.S. 276 Canarsie High School, F. Bennett American Legion Post, The Joan Snow Pre-K Center, and Flatbush YMCA.
