As elections draw near, it’s more important than ever that all American citizens have the same opportunity to vote. But in Wyandotte County, it seems as if the election commissioner doesn’t think similarly. Wyandotte County is one of the most diverse counties in the country. In our streets, you can hear at least 65 different languages, with Spanish the most prominent — 27% of the county identifies as Latino. Interestingly, Wyandotte County has also consistently had one of the lowest voter turnout rates in Kansas. This issue is why in August 2023, a group of local organizations approached County Election Commissioner Michael Abbott to discuss the need for voting documents and ballots in other languages, particularly Spanish. Abbott initially declined to talk with us for months, until finally relenting last November after a marked outcry and ongoing pressure from the community he serves. During the meeting, he informed us he would put information and other documents in Spanish online. We celebrated that commitment as a first step, with the understanding that many of the county residents we are trying to reach rarely search the internet for information. A meaningful and sincere commitment to facilitating voters’ access will need more than just translating some website content. Many of us in Wyandotte County came to the U.S. well into adulthood and are unfamiliar with the country’s complex voting system, which even native English speakers often find confusing. Providing full voting information and ballots in Spanish could make a significant difference for these voters to be sure they are participating in the process correctly — and it would facilitate their primary right as citizens to elect our representatives in government. This kind of initiative is already happening in counties with smaller Hispanic populations than Wyandotte County, and those counties have increased their voter participation. Providing language access in the voting process is as American as it gets — it brings together diversity and democracy, ensuring that all of us are part of the American dream, where our voices count. Wyandotte County ballots in the upcoming primary and general elections will not be provided in Spanish. There is no native content in Spanish on the county’s WyCoVotes.org website. The link there to “Elecciones” goes to the Kansas Secretary of State’s Spanish-language information page, which is not specific to Wyandotte County. Our hope is that Commissioner Abbott can see that as an election officer, he should prioritize language access in fulfilling his promise to serve all the residents of the county he serves. Everyone here, no matter where they come from, deserves a say. We’ve been working hard for almost a year now to make our voices heard, but it feels as if the commissioner isn’t making this a priority. I’m asking readers to join us in contacting Commissioner Abbott and asking him to work with us to make this happen: Call 913-573-8500, visit wycovotes.org/contact or send postal mail to his attention at the Wyandotte County Election Office, 850 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101. Voting is a basic right for all Americans. Providing information on how to do so in different languages, starting with Spanish, can make a big difference in giving everyone a fair chance to choose leaders who will bring opportunities to all of us. Orlanda Alonso has been a Wyandotte County resident since 2015. She has volunteered with local organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the Central Avenue Betterment Association and El Centro.
Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article290157844.html#storylink=cpy
