Sometimes. even though I speak English. I think I need help understanding what is on some of our ballots when we have all kinds of bond issues and other kinds of activity. Imagine if you are. as are some of the people I have met. a legal immigrant from Latin America who is so proud to be a citizen and so worried she will make a mistake when she first goes to vote. or an elderly gentleman who came to this country fleeing oppression in the former Soviet Union. who speaks only Russian but has become a citizen. is learning English and wants to be able to understand what he is voting for. At a time when we are embroiled in a debate about how best to assimilate immigrants and to send out the message that we want people in our country to learn English. to participate as citizens. we dont want to set up any artificial barriers to them feeling totally involved in and supportive of and welcomed by our great democracy. These expiring sections of the Voting Rights Act. sections 5. 203. 6 through 9. have all been reauthorizedfirst in the House. then in the Judiciary Committee yesterday here in the Senate. I am very pleased that has happened because I think we still need them.
Keywords matched
immigrant assimilate immigrants